“The government of Andhra Pradesh shall take appropriate action to make the Mission Vatsalya Scholarship Scheme to be applicable to the children of rescued survivors of trafficking and sex workers. Simultaneously, the government shall ensure that the sex workers are need not submit the certificates/credentials to prove that they are separated or divorced from their husbands while extending the time period to apply to the said scheme till end of this month” Mrs. Pushpa - Secretary, Mrs. Apoorva – President, Baji and Mounika from VIMUKTHI State level forum of survivors of trafficking and victims of commercial sexual exploitation have appealed to the Govt. of A.P.
“The government of Andhra Pradesh shall take appropriate action to make the Mission Vatsalya Scholarship Scheme to be applicable to the children of rescued survivors of trafficking and sex workers. Simultaneously, the government shall ensure that the sex workers are need not submit the certificates/credentials to prove that they are separated or divorced from their husbands while extending the time period to apply to the said scheme till end of this month” Mrs. Pushpa - Secretary, Mrs. Apoorva – President, Baji and Mounika from VIMUKTHI State level forum of survivors of trafficking and victims of commercial sexual exploitation have appealed to the Govt. of A.P.
As per the official number of AP State AIDS Control Society, there are 1.33 lakh sex workers are registered in Andhra Pradesh under AIDS control projects. VIMUKTHI members have recalled the directions by National Human Rights Commission as well as Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in 2020 to distribute the benefits under government welfare schemes to the sex workers without restricting or demand them to submit their credentials/identity proofs such as Aadhaar Card, Ration card. They emphasised that, the Mission Vatsalya scheme shall have to made eligible to the children of survivors of trafficking and sex workers through taking the certificate from the TI NGOs implementing HIV/AIDS projects of APSACS where they are registered under those NGOs.
They stated that no woman voluntarily entered in to this flesh trade but they have pushed in to it by experiencing domestic violence, harassment by their husbands, abuse and exploitation and also deceived by some people. So, they agonised that, how far it is rationale to demand evidences for their separation from such husbands. Further, one of the norms of eligible criteria under the scheme is to open a joint account for both mother and child but there is no enough time to complete all this criteria. Hence, VIMUKTHI leaders have appealed to extend the time period to apply for the scheme.
VIMUKTHI leaders have urged the government to take appropriate measures with immediate effect to prevent the children of sex workers and second generation being trafficked.
Encl: our representation submitted today in person to the Prl Secretary, Dept for Women, Children, Govt of AP
About HELP:
HELP is a voluntary organisation mentoring VIMUKTHI (A State level forum of sex workers and survivors of trafficking) in its mission for socio-economic empowerment of sex workers and survivors of trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation. HELP is working over two decades for the prevention of human trafficking and also protection and welfare of women and children in vulnerable conditions in the state of Andhra Pradesh.
For any clarifications please contact – Mr. Nimmaraju Ram Mohan @ 99497 23666 Mr Bhaskar – Programme Manager – HELP @ 9949688014