Roshni
Goal: To provide
HIV/AIDS care and
support services and promote prevention interventions for
women in prostitution in Kamathipura.
Project Roshni (A Ray of Light) was started in 2003 and provides
healthcare,
counselling, and
day care services to HIV-infected women in the red light area of Kamathipura - one of the oldest and largest red-light districts in the whole of Asia. CCDT works with almost 6500 women in prostitution (WIP) who live in this densely packed slum in the heart of Mumbai. Many of them are girls brought from other states in India, as well as from countries like Nepal and Bangladesh, and sold into prostitution.
Most of the brothels are nothing more than small rooms crowded with beds, often separated by curtains only. Some of the women live on the pavements; in huts made of scrap wood and plastic. The children of these women live on the streets along with their mothers, constantly exposed to
violence and even
sexual exploitation. The age group of the women ranges between 8 years and 65 years. More than 8% of the clients visiting the VCCTCs (Voluntary Confidential Counselling & Testing Centres) in Kamathipura are tested positive for HIV.
CCDT started its interventions with women in prostitution with a drop in center in 1999 and with its Project Samvad, which aimed at creating a community care and support system for the women. A greater need for support services and prevention interventions led to the formation of Project Roshni.
Activities - Day care facilities for women living with HIV/AIDS.
- Psycho-social support through counselling and support-group activities.
- Medical care; including care of the terminally ill, through referral linkages with private and public healthcare facilities.
Community outreach activities: - Inter-personal Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) activities.
- Community events for sensitising the community on the care and support needs of women living with HIV/AIDS and for addressing stigma and discrimination.
- Linkages with agencies in the area for increased referrals of women to the project for care and support services.
A significant achievement of the project has been the contribution of peer educators or sakhis who are women from the community itself. These women have a much better understanding of community dynamics and have been very successful in providing health related information to the community. They also offer valuable insights into the problems faced by women in prostitution. This has resulted in many women insisting on using condoms with their customers. Some have even been able to convince their 'aadmis' * to use condoms. One of our future challenges is to involve the women’s 'aadmis' and 'gharwalis' in the prevention and awareness of HIV/AIDS.
* Regular customers whom the women consider their husbands