The smart card way to self-esteem for sex workers

[Guest guest]

The smart card way to self-esteem

VEENA KRISHNAMOORTHY

The smart card initiative in Karnataka seeks to bring a sense of

inclusion, along with better health facilities, to sex workers.

We now feel that we are workers like anyone else, pursuing a

livelihood...

PUSHPA and her colleagues, armed with their new smart cards, will

soon be able to buy clothes for themselves and their loved ones. By

taking advantage of cash incentives, offered by some vendors, these

women from now on can look their best. With every purchase, points

will be added. These accumulated points, credited to their smart

cards, can be redeemed for discounts or gifts, when they make

purchases at a later date. They can also present these cards at

restaurants or at the store where they buy their provisions.

The only condition

The only string attached to keep these cards valid is that they will

have to turn up for health check-ups at least once in every three

months. The women will have to report at the clinic set up by the

Karnataka Health Promotion Trust (KHPT), Mysore (funded by Bill and

Melinda Gates Foundation's India AIDS Initiative) for the sex

workers, where they will undergo a thorough health check-up, for any

symptoms of STI (Sexually Transmitted Infections).

The Ashodaya Mahila Samanwaya Samithi is a newly registered

organisation of sex workers from Mysore and Mandya districts who

have been mobilised by the KHPT. This innovative smart card scheme

is the result of several discussions and partnership between KHPT,

Ashodaya and Pennant Consulting Services Pvt. Ltd., which prepared

the software for the initiative.

The pilot smart card initiative involves 500 sex workers. " We are

excited at the prospect of getting the smart card. It is not so much

about the discount, but as much about the feeling that I am as

privileged as any other person in society, " says Vijaylakshmi.

At the onset of this project, five business establishments that

include two restaurants, two garment shops and a provision store

have taken up this smart card initiative, and shortly will introduce

it to their customers. Small hand-held computers, Simputers, at

their establishments will read the smart cards. While the vendors

can record and read their transactions on these cards, they will

have no access to the health data stored on them. The health data

can only be entered and accessed at the clinic, using the main

computer. The system is designed in such a way that the Simputers

will not read cards that have not been updated at the clinic in the

last three months.

With the sex worker facing stigma and discrimination every day of

her life, the smart card is more than just a " plastic " cash

incentive; it symbolises a sense of self-worth, independence and

most importantly, a sense of inclusion. " These days, everyone

carries a credit, insurance or other cards, so why not us? " was the

uniform chorus among them.

The courage to question

Their experience in the last two years, of coming together, has

helped them to assess their own lives more objectively and in some

cases even come to terms with the choices they were forced to make.

They articulate this clearly. " We used to constantly feel guilty and

worthless because we felt we were doing something wrong. Since we

became part of the self-organisation, we realise that we had

responded to many compulsions and realities in our lives. Most of

these were not of our making and therefore we now feel that we are

workers like anyone else, pursuing a livelihood like anyone else. "

Having suffered neglect, abuse, exploitation, harassment and even

violence from either close family members, clients, middlemen, law

enforcement officers or often, just the general public, they

say, " Most of us did not enter this profession voluntarily. Our

circumstances and those around us forced us to, why should people

question what we do to survive? " They are beginning to gain the

courage to question and to negotiate. They recognise their rights

like any other citizen and are prepared to exercise them.

With sex workers having to support their families with their

earnings and needing to spend a substantial amount on transport,

refreshments and their personal grooming and appearance, getting a

discount on their purchases and bills is a meaningful incentive. As

Pushpa put it, " It is not uncommon for us to buy as many as three

new saris a month. Being smartly dressed is an integral part of our

work. "

The real aim

The real driving force behind the new smart cards initiative is to

motivate the women to seek optimum options to enhance their health.

Regular health check-ups and timely treatment are essential to

counter the risk of STI in their profession. The efforts of Ashodaya

has ensured that over 1,100 sex workers are availing of the health

services, provided at the clinic.

Ashodaya, along with well-known public figures, has celebrated

Labour Day, Independence Day, World AIDS Day, and more recently

their first anniversary. In their effort to gain the respect that

they deserve from society, the smart card could turn out to be

another small step in their courageous journey towards being

recognised as equals.

http://www.hindu.com/mag/2006/04/16/stories/2006041600260400.htm