From Ideation to Impact
Ghatkopar West, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India | 07/10/1998 to Present
Ms. Lata was brought from her native place in Karnataka to Mumbai by her husband in the year 1998 when she was having nothing except two pairs of clothes. He sold Ms. Lata to one of the brothel owners who compelled her to enter in the sex trade. When she was in this trade, she got married with one of her regular partners who brought her to brothels of Ghatkopar & gave birth to two children. When the AIDS Prevention Project of Vijay Krida Mandal viz. DISHA was initiated in the June 2002, Ms. Lata was assigned the job of Peer Educator in July 2005 with the responsibility of giving information to the Female sex workers about HIV-AIDS.
While working for AIDS Prevention Project for Female Sex Workers viz. DISHA, the special efforts are taken to empower the Female Sex Workers to realize their dignity & rights so that they cannot be misused by their clients & stake holders. The efforts are made to develop interest among these FSWs to learn reading & writing, motivate them to come together for solving their problems & to form Self Help Group. Accordingly, SHG of Female sex workers viz. DISHA Mahila Bachat Gat is formed.
We used to support those Female Sex Workers (who are having strong desire to come out from this profession) by providing alternate source of income through their appointment as project staff. This SHG viz. DISHA Mahila Bachat Gat has been registered with MAVIM as well as under Suvarn Jayanti Shahari Rojagar Yojana & received grant of Rs.10000/- under this scheme. The income generation activities such as preparation of imitation jewelry, perfumes and eatables are being undertaken by this SHG. The loan of Rs. 2,50,000/- (inclusive of subsidy) sanctioned for this SHG under SJSR Yojana for Income Generation Activities has been repaid & received subsidy from Govt.. DISHA Mahila Bachat Gat success
A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
