Nagpur: Around 90% of female
sex workers (FSWs) at Ganga Jamuna are yet to deposit their documents like identity proof for receiving the monetary assistance of Rs5,000, Rs2,500 for their children who are studying, apart from dry rations announced by the state government in wake of the hardships faced during the pandemic.
Out of the around 1,500 FSWs, barely 150 have completed the formalities like furnishing their consent, identity proof, bank account details and PAN card for availing the scheme.
Sources in the red light area said around 1,000 FSWs have Aadhaar card, 450 have bank accounts and approximately 1,200-1,300 have PAN cards. But many of them have either two or one of the documents and not all three, they said.
Hemlata Lohave of Indian Red Cross Society said Aadhaar cards of the some of the FSWs are in their native place while bank accounts of many have become dormant due to no usage. “Many of the FSWs do not have Aadhaar card at all. Few do not even have a single document. We are trying to help them prepare testimonials for receiving the government benefits,” she said.
Many FSWs are suspicious about the whole process and feel that this is a ploy to get them implicated, said Lohave. “Some of the FSWs are not ready to share their documents despite repeated counselling and efforts to convince them,” she said.
Lohave, along with her friends, has created a joint platform of Indian Red Cross Society and Ganika Mahila Shakti Sangathan to help the FSWs to create the documents. “We have managed to open few bank accounts with zero balance and also revived many dormant accounts,” said Lohave.
District collector Ravindra Thakare said the NGOs and local elected representatives can help the FSWs for creating documents. “We will discuss solutions to these problems in our subsequent meetings,” said Thakare.
According to a resident of Ganga Jamuna, there is a need to organize camps for preparing Aadhaar cards, ration cards, bank accounts and PAN cards in the locality which is mostly occupied by economically weak population who are also low on awareness.