The Meghalaya AIDS Control Society (MACS) is working towards rehabilitating the state’s sex workers, Lahkmen Rymbui informed the Assembly today.
North Shillong MLA Adelbert Nongrum raised the matter once again, asking the government for detailed figures on how many women are involved in the sex trade in the state, with a breakdown between urban and rural, educated and uneducated, married or unmarried. He also wanted to know the number of children whose mothers depend on the sex trade.
According to the 2018-19 report by the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), there were 1,553 female sex workers in Meghalaya who had registered with various NGOs, Nongrum informed. In addition, there were, in 2020, 4,525 registered people who are living with HIV/AIDS in the state, of which 2,198 are female and 223 children.
Nongrum dubbed these figures as alarming for a state with a population of only a few million.
In his reply, Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui informed that the state, through MACS, has been working towards the rehabilitation of sex workers.
Rymbui said that the MACS is implementing a targeted intervention project for female sex workers through different NGOs, with the objective of preventing the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
Drop-in centres have been provided for female sex workers where they can access counseling, health checkups, access to contraceptives, etc.
He also informed that East Khasi Hills police are engaged in proactive measures such as regular checking of hotels, lodges and guesthouses in Khyndailad, with foot patrols at night and a special cell for women set up at Sadar Police Station to exclusively deal with cases related to sexual assault, domestic violence, missing person cases and immoral trafficking.
“We need to create awareness among sex workers on the risks of human trafficking and exploitation, particularly of women and children, of the health-related risks associated with sex work, of creating awareness amongst themselves of their rights and duties, especially in ensuring that they lead a life of dignity and respect,” Rymbui said.
