Alternate livelihood brings hope for commercial sex workers

A programme to help commercial sex workers in India find alternative means of earning a living is enabling women to escape from a life of exploitation.

Rathi is a young woman living in a village in Toopran Mandal, India. She got married about eight years ago, but her husband was an alcoholic who couldn’t hold down a job.

He would spend his time drinking and subjecting Rathi to sexual and physical abuse and exploitation. Her family tried to help her financially, but her husband would spend the money on drink.

Rathi became a mother of two children and, to meet the growing expense, she started working as a coolie. Her husband’s addiction to alcohol grew worse and he started visiting prostitutes. Two years ago he died with multiple infections, including HIV.

Rathi’s condition worsened when her parents suddenly stopped supporting her. Seeing her helplessness, her employer started exploiting her. He would give her extra pay for sexual favours. Soon, Rathi decided to become a full time sex worker so that she could earn enough money to feed and educate her children.

As a sex worker, she had to deal with many different clients, the majority of whom already had one or more sexually transmitted infections (STIs). They would refuse to use condoms and Rathi know that she would also soon get an infection. She had learnt many things about HIV/AIDS when her husband was diagnosed with HIV. She was worried about her future and the fate of her children.

Then she heard about Sanghamitra – a local organisation working in partnership with Plan to prevent HIV/AIDS and trafficking. She approached them for help. Rathi was provided with counselling by the staff.

She was invited to attend the monthly Victims of Commercial Sex Exploitation and Trafficking (VOCSET) meeting. Here she met many women who were victims of commercial sex, like her. She felt better after talking with them and she gained confidence. She decided to deal with her life more positively and give up her profession.

The staff helped her to find an alternative means of livelihood and made her member of a self help group. She was provided with a small loan which she used to start selling flowers in the market. Today, Rathi earns a living by selling flowers and lead a life of respect and dignity. Rathi also educates other women involved in sex work on sexually infected infections, including AIDS.

Accurate education on HIV/AIDS and good emotional and financial support has helped Rathi to change her life from one of abuse and violence to one of stability, dignity, progress and prosperity. She now smiles again and her children are happily going to school.