Mumbai: The state government of Maharashtra issued a resolution on Thursday, stating that “assistance is to be given to 30,901 women, according to an order from the Supreme Court as relief during the ongoing pandemic.
The resolution states the National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) to aid and arrange for the distribution of monthly compensation and ration to the sex workers in Maharashtra without requiring any proof of identity from them.
This directive came in light of the orders of the Supreme Court dated September 21, 2020, and October 28, 2020, in the matter of Budhadev Karmaskar v. State of West Bengal.
The Supreme Court had directed all the States to take appropriate steps to provide monetary assistance to sex workers whose livelihoods have been affected by the lockdown imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As of now, the fund will be collected from the Chief Minister’s relief fund. The GR also stated that the fund is to be distributed to 32 districts for now, while the remaining 4 will be approved within a few days.
Yashomati Thakur, the Minister for Women & Child Development instructed the officials to be sensitive while assisting the sex workers; no woman should be insisted on showing identity proof.
District-wise committees are also to be set up under the chairmanship of district collectors, which will send the proposal to the Commissioner for Women & Child Development for further action. These committees will provide basic assistance to the sex workers, such as dry food grains, or cash.
Each committee will be composed of a member from an NGO, a district social welfare officer, a district-level representative of NACO, a representative from district legal services authority, a female police officer (recommended by the district superintendent of police or by the commissioner of police). Apart from them, the district women and child development officer will be functioning as a member secretary.