Sex workers to launch 'Umrao Bachao' movement from Nov 5

Varanasi, Oct 21 (UNI) Emboldened by proactive efforts of renowned filmmaker J P Dutta to transform their lives, sex workers from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh will launch a movement next month against the growing menace of girl trafficking.

Convenor of Gudiya -- an NGO working for upliftment of sex wrokers since 1993 -- Ajit Singh told newspersons here today at least 40 sex workers from UP, MP and Bihar will launch 'Umrao Bachao Andolan' from November 5 here to put an end to the growing menace of girl trafficking in three states.

''East UP, Bihar and MP not only serve the fountainhead for young girls to flesh trade in Mumbai and other metros, but also render the trafficking route to girls being brought from Nepal,'' he claimed.

It is not only the duty of the government to put an end to this distressing phenomenon, but also the responsibility of one and all to launch a movement to against this inhuman practice, he added.

The sex workers from the three states will use the stage at eight-day annual 'Gudiya Utsav' starting November 5, not only to showcase their music and dance prowess, but to launch a public movement to stop girl trafficking.

''The Umrao Bachao movement aims at educating the commoners that only their proactive cooperation can help save countless Amiran from becoming Umrao Jaan. The sex workers will speak to commoners and not intellectuals for making the movement a big success,'' Mr Singh maintained.

Titled 'Dhai Akhar Prem Ke,' the Gudiya Mahotsav will also see sex workers set the tone of light classical music by rendering Thumri, Chaiti and Dadra, besides performing Rai dance of MP and Qawali and Bhojpuri songs.

''We are not calling intellectuals to this Mahotsava as it is the people power only which can stop the menace of girl trafficking,'' he added.

The eight-day event will be kicked off by a song from a sex worker's minor daughter whose career is being sponsored by J P Dutta. Invitations are also being sent to entire film crew of Dutta's Umrao Jaan including Mr Dutta, Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan.

Mr Singh added.

The annual art festival of the sex wrokers of three states was started under the banner of Gudiya in 1995 in presence of famous poet Kaifi Azmi and in subsequent years, the festival was graced by Bollywood personalities including Mahesh Bhatt, Tanuja Chandra, Padma Visbhushan tabla virtuoso Pandit Kishan Maharaj and newsmaking former municipal commissioner of Mumbai G R Khairnar.

The props and dresses used in the magnum opus 'Umrao Jaan' are being auctioned online and the proceeds generated through the big-ticket auction will pave the way for establishment of music centre for the kids of the sex wrokers in Varanasi.

The centre will serve as the place, where these kids away from their dark past will be transformed into classical artists. Research on the contribution of courtesans to Indian classical music will also be conducted at the centre, Mr Singh added.

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