Sex workers' documentary wins rave response

Vikasanathinte Padayil, a video documentary directed by a group of female sex workers in Thrissur, became the talk of the town when it was released by Health Minister P.K. Sreemathy on Wednesday in Thiruvananthapuram. The documentary narrates the activities of a community-based organization of female sex workers named 'Sanghamitra' that operates in Thrissur.

Sanghamitra, a 480-member organization, working as an implementing agency of the KSACS-sponsored 'Suraksha' HIV control programme among sex workers in Thrissur district, has grown and does much more than HIV control programmes and related activities. It has helped 120 of its members to start zero balance bank accounts and another 152 members to get medical insurance coverage through sponsorship. It also conducts job-oriented training programmes and various self-employment activities for its members.

The success story of this community forms the narrative thread of the video documentary, produced by the Kerala State AIDS Control Society (KSACS). The documentary is scheduled to be screened for communities targeted for HIV-control projects across the state.