The State Government in a welcome step allocated money for the welfare of eunuchs in its Budget. But it is sad that no such provision was made in the Budget for the sex workers.
Besides, during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government implemented various welfare schemes for different sections of the society. But the Government did not extend a helping hand to the sex workers, said the Odisha Patita Udhar Samiti on Thursday.
The sex workers are leading a miserable time during the pandemic. A Kolkata-based social organigasation moved the Supreme Court praying for providing them dry rations and Rs 5,000 per month.The apex court directed the Central and State Governments to provide dry food materials to all sex workers, who have been identified by the National AIDS Control Society. The court also asked to take steps to provide the food materials without any identity proofs.
But the Odisha AIDS Society in a contempt of the court direction has asked for the personal details of the sex workers and also to fill up a form that seeks their consent for taking the food materials.
Meanwhile, though many days have passed, no steps have been taken by the Government to provide dry rations to the sex workers. So, on December 16, the sex workers are going to organise a rally from Master Canteen Square here and meet the Law Secretary for fulfillment of their demands, said Patita Udhar Samiti secretary Abhayrani Chaudhury.