Feb. 16: A voluntary organisation is considering ways to form self-help groups to empower “women” prostitutes.

The North East Society for the Promotion of Youth and Masses, an NGO, has taken up a project called Sathee, which will be supported by Assam State AIDS Control Society.

The project will aim at reducing high-risk behaviour among women prostitutes. It will involve communicating with the prostitutes, promoting the use of condoms and treatment of various sexual diseases.

The project will cover the area from railway gate number 2 (Lakhtokia) to Mathgaria. Altogether 430 prostitutes have been identified in that particular stretch.

“The term ‘women in prostitution’ has been used as it helps to classify the group into different categories, while the term sex worker is derogatory,” explained Chiranjeeb Kakoty, director of the NGO. “By forming self-help groups, it will not only be easier for them to get financial help, but also give them a collective voice to address their grievances.” The idea of forming self-help groups was discussed at the project advisory committee meeting held today. The committee comprises people from different walks of life and includes prostitutes as well.

The committee will meet once every three months to monitor the progress of the project. The prostitutes have been classified into street-based, family-based, call girls and highway-based. Brothels have not been considered for the project, as there are none present in the selected site.

The committee members have also suggested designating particular areas in the city as red light zones.

The project will try to create income-generating opportunities for the prostitutes. It also intends to distribute condoms to at least 100 women prostitutes. Eight condom outlets have been set up in the project area. The committee meeting also stressed on creating awareness so that the prostitutes are not treated like criminals by police.

Activities under the project will include creating linkages with the health department and the police.