Govt launches acting training projects for sex workers

In a bid to provide rehabilitation to sex workers, the state government has launched acting training projects. 

Dr Sashi Panja, Minister of State for Women and Child Development and Social Welfare, on Friday inaugurated the project. The project aims to bring the sex workers, who are willing, to the mainstream life.  

It must be mentioned that the Supreme Court had directed the Centre and the state governments to provide technical or vocational training to the sex workers considering the fact that poverty forces them to take up this profession.

Under the project named as “Samalamban Special”, the state government is trying to bring in sex workers and their children. After going through the training programme they will also be helped to get opportunity to work and showcase what they have learnt during the 3-month-long training programme, said De Panja after inaugurating the project.

Actors from the television and entertainment industry were also present at the event. They have assured help to the state government to rehabilitate the interested sex workers. 

Initially, 40 sex workers will be selected and they will undergo the acting lessons. After their training is over, they will be helped to get an opportunity to work in the entertainment industry.

Goal India, an NGO, is helping the state government to undertake the project and the West Bengal Women Development Undertaking will be monitoring the development of the project.  Leena Ganguly, chairperson of the undertaking, who also runs a production house, said that she will be giving opportunities to the sex workers to perform after they complete their training programme successfully.  Soon the training of the sex workers on fabrication of jewellery will also begin. It will be a 3-month-long training and the state government will provide all necessary help to get employment after they get trained. 

It may be mentioned that besides taking steps to rehabilitate the sex workers, the state government has already taken several steps which will benefit the members of self help groups and workers of the unorganised sector.  A health insurance scheme called Swasthya Sathi has been introduced for ASHA workers, self help groups, home guards, ICDS workers and other contractual workers. Around four crore people will be benefitted by the health insurance scheme.