After two years of struggle 145 sex workers get Aadhaar

Kolhapur: Over 145 sex workers who struggled to get an identity for over two years have finally received their Aadhaar cards.
The state government is working with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to provide sex workers with key documentation necessary to avail benefit under various schemes.For the 800 registered sex workers in the city, the card is not a mere identity but also social recognition.
In the past, they were refused the card due to lack of residential proof.
Local NGOs and a community-based organization of sex workers initially tried to convince the house-owners where these workers were living on rent to provide electricity bills or other documents as proof of their residence.
However, after hitting dead end on that front, the Varangana Sakhi Sanghtana approached the district administration to intervene and suggest a way out. After two years, these workers have succeeded.
Last week, the third successive camp was conducted at Varangana’s office in which the district officials enrolled more 40 sex workers for Aadhar registration. The encouraging response from the administration has come as a boost for the activists and sex workers.
“It is a great achievement. With this card, the sex workers can avail benefit of government schemes. We know it is not an easy task as they are often asked for ration card as a supporting document,” Sharada Yadav, president of the organization, said.
The organisation convinced the state women and child welfare department and the district administration that it would provide a letter to the sex workers justifying his or her identity. The letter was approved by the administration and since then, 145 such letters have been distributed.
Social activists were seeking relaxation in the norms for sex workers to get Aadhaar cards. Mahendra Kamble, regional impact officer of Bengaluru-based NGO Swati Resource Centre, said, “In last six months, the government seems to have relaxed some of its policies for the sex workers. Those who have got the Aadhar card are in the age group 25 to 45 years and almost all of them do not have any other identification. They are not registered voters, neither do they have ration cards.”
He said the sex workers cannot avail the benefits of government schemes for the homeless and monthily pension for senior citizens without the Aadhaar or ration cards.
“These and other benefits can be availed by the sex workers who have ration cards. However, there are very few such sex workers. In a recent meeting with district supply officer, we requested him to allow Varangana Sanghtana’s letter for ration card as well,” he added.