K'taka: Unique prog held for sex workers in city

Mysore, Sep 19: A unique programme of disseminating information 'Arivu' through satellite about the facilities the government provides for the betterment of sex workers was held at the Abdul Nazir Sab Institute of Rural Development here.

The programme was jointly organised by Karnataka Health Promotion Trust (KHPT) and Karnataka AIDS Prevention Society in collaboration with State Social Welfare Department and other NGOs to address the grievances of about one lakh sex workers and their children across the state, who are deprived of the benefits.

In a rare first in the country, satellite-based technology was being used to empower sex workers' collectives to become active partners in response to HIV.

The Satellite Communication (SATCOM) Centre made operational by Indian Space Research Organisations (ISRO) was located at the State Institute of Rural Development and receiving stations were located in 29 districts in the District Training Institutes and District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETS).

Sex workers form the most important group when it comes to AIDS response. ''We are happy to partner with collectives from across Karnataka. Their contribution to the HIV prevention programme was invaluable, said Sujatha Rao, Director General of National AIDS Control Organisations (NACO).

Ms Sujatha urged them to use innovative training workshops, to think big, grow in scale and develop the organisational capacity to make a decisive differences to the epidemic.

UNI