Kolkata sex workers protest against ITPA

Kolkata, Aug 29 (UNI) Sex workers in Kolkata today launched a day-long campaign demanding withdrawal of the Immoral Trafficking (Prevention) Act (IPTA).

''Demanding abolition of the Act, sex workers, along with various other NGO activists, will submit a memorandum to the governor at the end of the campaign,'' said Ms Bharati De, Project Coordinator, Durbar Mahila Sammanay Committee(DMSC), an NGO working to furthur the cause of sex workers in Sonagachi in Kolkata.

She said in the face of stiff resistance by the DMSC the IPTA Bill was not placed in Parliament last time.

''But it is scheduled to be placed in the Lok Sabha tomorrow,'' she added.

''If the Act is implemented it will threaten the livelihood and security of the sex workers and encourage their buying and selling.

This will only aggravate their exploitation and torture,'' she pointed out.

UNI