:: saingo ::

DIDI (sister) PROJECT
for sex workers & their children

DIDI project is a dream comes true. It is a welfare project of the DIDIs, by the DIDIs and for the DIDIs. ‘DIDI’ in the literal sense means sister, who shares the sorrows, supports in difficult times, on whom one can rely on and who is the guiding star in our life.

A DIDI is one of the SWs in the area, who shares a good rapport with all the other SWs, who knows their difficulties and who is committed to work untiringly for the betterment of the SWs in the area.

The important works under-taken are:

BEHAVIOR CHANGE COMMUNICATION (BCC): The main target of DIDI project is to promote the practice of safe sex in all red light areas for the prevention of HIV/aids & the first step towards is to bring about behavior change amongst the SWs by street plays, posters, meeting etc. We try and bring about one to one interaction between all the SWs all the health staff to bring about the change in attitude. Creating communication between SWs of different areas as well as the general society also helps this.

FREE CONDOM DISTRIBUTION, is done regularly in order to promote the universal usage of condom without which it is impossible to even talk about safe sex practice in red light area. This is the corner –stone of the entire effort for the upliftment of the SWs.A huge rally of SWs & DIDIs was organized by SAI to express their discontent against government’s stand to stop free condom distribution.

BASIC HEALTH CARE is provided to all through the Mobile clinic at their doorstep, which is absolutely free of cost. Because of the ignorance unhealthy customs and superstitious beliefs, they either don’t get proper treatment or are exploited by quacks. Hence the need for appropriate and timely medical cares.

SCHOOL SUPPORT PROGRAMS: are carried out in order to educate the children of SWs & prevent them from going into prostitution. Other activities undertaken in the field are encouraging children to go to school, help the DIDIs in procuring admission for their children in schools, and prevent dropouts from school.

SELF HELP GROUPS (SHG): are formed among the DIDIs to tackle their day-to-day problems like domestic violence/ harassment from police, etc.

EVENTS are organized like world AIDS day, & dignitaries from Bollywood are called in order to spread awareness as well as provide the SWs a respectable position in the society.

AWARENESS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS: We also try to make them aware about their basic human rights and also teach them how to present their case in different situations. We try to build in them the confidence to talk for themselves, to make their voices heard in different situations like getting a rationing card, going to government hospitals, getting admission for their children in school.

What is more important is not just giving medical treatment but giving them undaunted support in their every difficulty, giving them the respect, love and care that is denied to them by the society as well as to make them aware of their right and to encourage them to fight against exploitation.