SAHABHAGINI
STATE LEVEL FEDERATION OF WOMEN IN SEX WORK COLLECTIVES-KARNATAKA
I. INTRODUCTION
1 BACKGROUND
Sex work is not a new phenomenon. It is an age old practice that continues to remain in our society. So many people who have witnessed the lives of women in sex work closely take moral attitude of eradicating it. We need to understand it is not so easy to eradicate because many schools of social thoughts have failed to understand sex work profession will continue to exist as long as family value exists.
Besides moral value, eradication and rehabilitation, women in sex work face stigma and discrimination including criminal offence. With all these backdrops women in sex work have formed State level federation, which is success in the history of Karnataka where structural barrier is so strong. Formation of federation did not happen in a day or two; it took a decade of effort to form as an institution.
Across India
Thus in 1993 a NGO called BIRDS had launched HIV prevention program in Gokak taluk of Belgaum
BIRDS used the universal strategy of creating awareness on safe sex among WSW through peer educators. Awareness by peer educator continued for six years. Though WSW as peer educators involved in HIV prevention activities it was not easy task for them. They were harassed by police, goondas, pimps/madams and client. Ultimately WSW realized it is impossible to protest against violence and harassment single handedly, and formed collectives of WSW and called it has Shakthi AIDS prevention Sanhga. Formation and registration of shakthi sangha has motivated WSW in other 13 districts of Karnataka to form and register their sanghas. All these collectives named their sanhags as AIDS prevention sanhga. These sanghas did not face hurdles like shakthi sangha because registeration of shakthi sangha was reference for others. The thirst to strengthen collectivzation did not halt at district level, but it went further to form state level collectives.
District representatives would participate in annual state level convention at tukannati. On one such convention all the representatives were discussing about the issues and problems related to sex work and to them. On one of this occasion Mr. Vijay Thakoor sowed the seed of forming state level forum for WSW. District representatives quoted ‘when other professionals have their own association why not we have our own association’.
The combination of issues related WSW and an idea of state level forum paved way for birth of State level forum. In 2002 collectives from 14 districts joined together and formed state level federation called ‘Sahabhagini’. The meaning of Sahabhagini is equal partner. Same year Sahabhagini was registered under Karnataka Society’s Act 1960.
3. GROWTH OF SAHABHAGINI - SAHABHAGINI MILE STONE
FROM THEN SAHABHAGINI DID NOT LOOK BACK. FOLLOWING MILESTONES ARE EVIDENCE FOR ITS GROWTH
SL.NO | Year | Events |
1 | 1993 | WSW begun to work as peer educator |
2 | 1995 | 117 WSW protested against police arrest & case contested |
3 | 1998 | Selection of Peer coordinator from the community to lead the project |
4 | 1999-2000 | Across Karnataka 14 district level collectives are formed and registered |
5 | 2002 | Concept of state level federation emerged, Executive committee of Sahabhagini is elected through election |
6 | 2002 | Sahabhagini state level Federation registered under Karnataka society’s Act |
7 | 2003-08 | Currently Sahabhagini member CBOS are 18 |
8 | 2003 | Sahabhagini has its own office in Tukannati- R.M.Patil donated plot and district collectives contributed financial support for construction of the office |
9 | 2003 | 6 district collectives received fund from KSAPS for HIV prevention activities with BIRDS support |
10 | 2003-04 | Formation of network of advocates through Sahabhagini |
11 | 2005 | Partnership with KHPT |
12 | 2005 | Launched vulnerable reduction program in |
13 | 2005-07 | Sahabhagini Representatives were selected as resource person |
14 | 2006 | Sahabhagini Representative visited |
15 | 2006 | Sahabhagini set up and inaugurated its |
16 | 2006 | Ideology building workshop is a foundation for democratic way of election |
17 | 2006 | Participated in ITPA amendment rally in |
18 | 2007 | Formation of network of media people through Sahabhagini |
19 | 2008 | Sahabhagini and in some district collectives process of organizational development had begun through democratic way of election |
20 | 2008 | Without support from NGO/Donor agency Sahabhagini has implemented KSAPS project in Chikkamagalore Dt. Karnataka Satate |
21 | 2008 | In partnership with KHPT & KSTC have launched OD training for district representatives |
22 | 2008-09 | Has got 12A, FCRA and 80G |
23 | 2009 | Sahabhagini independently implemented project under FCRA agreement with KHPT |
The above mile stones are steps towards sustainability of Sahabhagini. Besides it is heading towards organization development. It also focuses on the factors needed for OD those are organization vision, objectives, and increase in membership, area expansion, program strategy and changes among community women. These factors are shared with you in few sentences.
4. ORGANIZATION DEVELOPMENT
1, VISION AND MISSION
VISION
“ To Ensure Integrated Development of Women in Sex Worker through the institutional efforts ”
“ District collectives and Federation will work together through mobilizing & Utilizing the financial and human reources for empowering and improving the quality of life of poor and marginalized women in Sex worker ”
2. OBJECTIVES
- To minimize the impact of HIV/AIDS on women in sex work
- To support Sahabhagini members to avail service and schemes
- To protect human rights of Sahabhagini members
- To improve dignity of Sahabhagini members and empower member collectives
- To influence government and non-government towards policy and perception women in sex work.
3. OUR REACH
Our partners are spread across in 17 districts in 18 collectives. We reach (indirectly) 51739 women in sex work (estimated number) through 18 collectives.
4. WHAT WE DO?
We mobilize women in sex work, and strengthen organizational development in a democratic way, voice our existence from site level to state level. Empower them to realize their rights. Advocate with state level government institution to bring change in their policy that has negative impact on lives of women in sex work.
5. HOW DO WE WORK?
- Collectivization
- Advocacy
- STATE LEVEL HELPLINE FOR CBOs
1. COLLECTIVIZATION
The foundation for Sahabhagini federation is district collectives; one of the foremost focuses is strengthening district collectives. Strengthening so district collective is possible only when an organization adopts policies. To strengthen organization development Sahabhagini in partnership with KHPT & KSTC have taken lead role in facilitating capacity building on OD including democratic way of election. The result is executive committee of Sahabhagini and district collectives have running the organization smoothly
2. ADVOCACY
Sahabhagini has taken lead role in advocating with advocates and media personnel to sensitize issues of WSW. It also took part in rally 2006,ITPA amendment that was held in Delhi
3. CAPACITY BUILDING
Women from community have undergone number of trainings on Organization Management, Governance, Crisis Management & Legal Literacy, and Media Advocacy & Social Entitlement
4. STATE LEVEL HELPLINE
As part of this initiative, developing and maintaining a helpline through the State level FSWs network (Sahabhagini) to support the community based groups/ organizations in their violence addressal efforts has also been proposed. This helpline can be accessed by all the community members across the state.
SUPPORT PROVIDED BY THE HELPLINE: The helpline will support the CBOs on various issues such as system development, management; violence addressal, social entitlements; resource mobilization and funding; health related services; Linkages with other organizations. These aspects will fall within the purview of the helpline. Supportive materials and directories will be created to equip the helpline with information.
5. CHANGES AMONG MEMBERS OF SAHABHAGINI
WITH THE ABOVE GROWTH AND IMPARTING OD ONE CAN SEE A CHANGE AMONG WSW:
- State level sub committees are formed, these committees have visited state and district
- level departments to collate information on various schemes which has enhanced their articulation skill
- Project launched by the district sang has by the community have improved their skill of strengthening collectivization process
- After the organization development (OD) training there is an improvement in maintaining documents of District Sanghas and state level federation
- Executive committee of district collectives and state level federation has understood the importance of executive committee meeting and general body meeting. As a result of their realization there is increased active participation in meetings are seen
- By understanding the structure and operational process of Sahabhagini federation, district collectives have been taking active role in strengthening federation
- There is a gradual increase in membership district level collectives
- Increased confidence in general body members on maintaining documents of sanghas. For example: At the time of JAT visit by NACO, Sahabhagini members visited 10 districts to provide technical support on maintenance of required documents without the help of Sahabhagini Staff.
6. Contact US
For more information contact us in the following address
Registered Office
Sahabhagini-State level Federation of women in sex work collectives-Karnataka
BIRDS Campus, Village and Post-Tukannati, Taluk: Gokak, District: Belgaum
Phone No.08332-284678
Project Office
Sahabhagini-KHPT project
No.136, LIG 2nd stage, 7th Main , KHB Colony, Basveshwarnagar, Bangalore-560079
Phone No. 080-23401963, E-mail ID: sahabhagini_belgaum@yahoo.co.in
