'Entertainment workers' voice their concerns in unison

Mysore, Mar 18 (UNI) Over 1,000 sex workers, folk artistes and performers across the State came together to fight for their rights and entitlements in a two-day conference here today.

The 'entertainment workers' discussed issues like their marginalisation, stigmatisation, social isolation, their right to work as well as secure a social position at the conference, organised by 'Ashodya Mahila Samanvaya Samithi', a sex workers' collective fight for their rights.

Inaugurating the conference, Karnataka Kannada and Culture Minister H S Mahadeva Prasad gave a call for bringing together these workers on a single platform to fight for their rights. All of them, including sex workers, folk artistes, performers and dance bar girls, should be included in the Entertainment Workers Bill. This initiative by the sex workers organisation here was a role model for all the NGOs and organisations working for the cause to emulate.

Addressing the gathering, Samithi Secretary Bagyalakshmi stressed the need to address the issues faced by entertainment workers across the State. The initiative taken by the sex workers was the first of its kind, which would help them to fight for their rights from a common platform.

The Samithi in Mysore had launched initiatives like smart card and community kitchen. Police harassment was among the issues addressed by this organisation, working for the empowerment of female, male and hijra sex workers. HIV prevention was its guiding spirit and over 3,000 members were actively taking part in this programme. Ashodya model was accepted by the National AIDS Control Organisation while rolling out phase three of its national programme in this regard.

UNI