The Maharashtra state women and child welfare department has directed the authorities concerned in every district to conduct vocational training programmes for commercial sex workers (CSWs) to wean them away from the flesh trade.
The department, in its communique, pointed out that preparations to train CSWs have already started in Kolhapur district. The Kolhapur Municipal Corporation (KMC), the Zilla Parishad (ZP) and the district collectorate will jointly organise the courses for these CSWs.
An officer at the KMC told DNA that the state government’s decision is based on the Supreme Court’s (SC) order on February 14 directing all state governments to conduct the vocational courses for CSWs.
The SC was hearing a criminal appeal of Buddhadev Karmaskar versus State of West Bengal. He has been convicted by a lower court for the murder of a sex worker, Chayya Rani Pal. Although the SC dismissed the appeal, it ordered the state government to arrange for vocational training courses of CSWs.
In Kolhapur, a meeting of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and government officers was conducted on August 2, while the advertisement has been issued in the dailies inviting NGOs and CSWs to join the training programme.
NGOs interested have to submit their proposal for the training and rehabilitation of CSWs. ZPs in rural areas and the KMC in Kolhapur city will arrange the training programmes. Funds for the programme will be spent from the budget of the women and children welfare departments of the local body. CSWs can also apply individually, seeking training in a course of her choice.
“There is a need for an awareness programme for sex workers for this programme. The NGOs have demanded that eunuchs, devdasis — women married to god — and tamasha artistes should also be included in this programme. We will come up with details of the programme within two weeks,” the civic official said.
