SAHELI HIV/AIDS KARYAKARTA SANGHA, Pune, India


We are working with and for women in sex work in Pune since 1991under the banner of our parent NGO, Peoples Health Organization. The peer educators and sex workers came forward and established their own organization which was registered in 1998 under society’s registration act. A true community based organisation with its grass root level workers as its backbone and the extensive rapport with the women in sex work community has enabled us to gain access within the community
All the members of the collective are having around 8 to 9 years experience in TI project and also of outreach work. SAHELI HIV/AIDS KARYAKARTA SANGHA has been established due to the voluntary efforts of women in the area. At present SAHELI HIV/AIDS KARYAKARTA SANGHA is playing multidimensional roles, as self help group as a community based organization and also working as the most experienced and care group regarding projects for sex workers.

SAHELI HIV/AIDS KARYAKARTA SANGHA is the only sex worker’s collective in Pune. We are working for HIV/AIDS prevention & control through collective efforts of women in sex work with the vision of ‘Empowerment of women in sex work through Collectivization.’ The mission and Aim to for this forum for sex worker is to provide health care support to women in sex work, to provide necessary social services to women in sex work and to change the attitude of society towards women in sex work, to enhance and enable greater levels of self-protection among sex workers through a sense of togetherness, collective action and the most important is creating an identity.
We work with following Objectives:
1) To protect women from HIV infection.
2) To provide the care to women affected by HIV related illness or AIDS.
3) To provide medical services for treatable S.T.I.s
4) To work for women affected with Tuberculosis.
5) To provide for hospice care for terminally ill women.
6) To care for children orphaned due to AIDS.
7) To prevent discrimination against women infected/affected by HIV.
8) To work for the care and education of children of sex workers.
9) To become self-supporting and self-organized for long term HIV/AIDS related interventions.
10) The organization will work to prevent minor girls in below age of 18 year, from entering into sex work. To take some steps to prevent minor girls to enter into the flesh trade.
11) To provide free legal aid assistance, help to the deserving and needy women.
12) Generally to do all such other lawful acts, deeds or things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of any/or all of the above aims and objects of the society.