Pune: There are close to 2,200 commercial sex workers functioning out of Budhwar Peth , but most have not been able to avail benefits of the Mazhi Ladki Bahin Yojana due to lack of required documents, especially ration cards and school leaving certificates, even as various NGOs try to help them procure the govt papers. Manjela (29) is the lone earning member in her family. She stands waiting for customers at a corner in Budhwar Peth, something that she has done for the last 15 years.
She is a commercial sex worker (CSW) and lives on the streets. She wants a better life for her three-year-old daughter and does what she has to. "I did not get any benefit of the Ladki Bahin scheme," she said.
Despite her eligibility, she is deprived of any gains because of lack of documents mandatory for the scheme. There are many CSWs just like her. Several NGOs are helping CSWs, an extremely vulnerable section of the society, get their documents for the scheme.
The mandatory requirement of a ration card or a school leaving certificate to prove their domicile has been an impediment. Many NGOs working in the area have found it difficult to arrange govt documents for CSWs. The Ladki Bahin scheme was introduced for financial empowerment of women, especially those from impoverished sections.
It promises women aged between 21 and 65 years Rs 1,500 per month per woman who is a domicile of Maharashtra . Alka Gujnal, member of Alka Foundation is a resident of Budhwar Peth. She said, "I have personally .
