Meet endorses SC ruling for FSW rehab programme
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 10 2011: A one day women convention held here at Youth Hostel under the aegis of the Survivors' Action for Human Rights has called for implementing the Supreme Court ruling to take up rehabilitation programme for female sex workers in each and every State of India.

The convention organised in association with the Centre for Social Development under the theme 'Right to Live With Dignity' further adopted two other resolutions including opening of night shelters for female sex workers in every district so as to protect them from harassments by armed and anti-social elements and organising vocational training programmes for women living with HIV.

Later, a memorandum highlighting the plight of female sex workers in Manipur and under what circumstances they took to this profession was submitted to Governor Gurbachan Jagat.

Speaking on the topic "Fundamental rights of the women commercial sex workers", State officer of Lawyers Collective Imphal , Hemanta observed that the Immoral Traffic Prevention Act 1956 being implemented in the country has become outdated.

According to this Act, female sex workers are seen as criminals and they are being punished from time to time.

Saying that the single largest factor for birth of female sex workers is poverty, Hemanta noted these impoverished women became commercial sex workers as the last means in their struggle for survival.

Understanding the compelling situation under which these hapless women became female sex workers and the adverse conditions under which they have been working, the Supreme Court issued a ruling on February 14 this year directing all the States and Union Territories to take up rehabilitation programmes for female sex workers.

It was also instructed that detail project reports for these rehabilitation programmes should be submitted to the Supreme Court by May 5, Hemanta said.

However, nothing has been done in Manipur till date to implement the Supreme Court ruling, he said.

One female sex worker speaking at the convention said that four to five new women came to North AOC every week to join their colleagues working there.

She said that none of them chose their profession willingly but were compelled to take up the profession as the last means for survival.

Most of the female sex workers are widows or left unattended by their own husbands.

At first they struggled to earn their livelihood by working as vegetable vendors or petty traders or labourers.

They never thought of becoming female sex workers but the harsh realities surrounding them pushed these women into flesh trade, the woman said.

She said that police, IRBs and commandos often confiscated mobile phones and money.

Sometimes, they asked for sexual favour without using condom.

When they were refused, the security personnel would thrash the female sex workers, she conveyed.

Centre for Social Development project in-charge Ngangom Ningthemjao said that there are around 7000 commercial female sex workers in Manipur.

It is imperative that the Government take up a rehabilitation programme immediately for these women to wean them away from their profession and induct them to other professions, Ningthemjao asserted.

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