नवमहाराष्ट्र युवा अभियान

Consultation on first draft of Maharashtra State Youth Policy Declaration With victims of commercial sexual exploitation and bar girls Organised by, Navnirman and Sanmitra Trust On 3rd December 2009 at Sanmitra Trust, Malad-Malwani, Mumbai.

Facilitated by: Miss Sushma Khillare and Mr. Nilesh Puradkar
Participants: 27 bar girls out of which 20 were youth

Process:

Mr. Nilesh Puradkar explained the objectives and process of Maharashtra State Youth Policy.
Each topic of the youth policy was explained by the facilitators and the group gave its suggestions, it is as follows,

1. Education

a) Quality of education should be same across the schools and government schools quality should be at par with the private schools.

b) Youth who didn’t have opportunity to continue their education should have special programs/schools to come into mainstream of education, and due certification for the students.

c) Youth who are parents and not been able to look after their kids in good manner should have option to send their children into the hostels where basic amenities and quality education will be provided.

2. Employment

a) As a strategy for rehabilitation, credit access should be provided to the victimised youth with the nominal interest rate.

b) Producing individual documents is major hurdle to access welfare schemes and social security. Solution to this is not to negate the social securities but to make required documentation simple.

c) Protection for minor youth from commercial sexual exploitation by prohibition in bars and in flesh trade.

d) Government policies should not be haphazardly implemented. Like, decision of closing the ladies bars should be taken after detailed plan of rehabilitation for victims of flesh trade and bar girls.

3. Social Security

a) To get house is impossible because of stigma attached to various groups. As a result, they have rent a house at very high rate on daily basis. Thus there should be provision of social housing for the youth from stigmatised and vulnerable groups.

b) Secured income should be guaranteed by the employer no matter in what sector the youth is working.

c) Social security, provident fund, insurance and medical insurance should be available to all the youth no matter in which sector the youth is working.

d) For youth who are living life with stigma has constant fear about life in the unproductive age. Social securities in the society as a whole can take out stress from youth in this age.

4. Health

a) Government should provide medicine and services like X-rays for poor people in government hospitals.

b) Doctors in hospital staff and doctors should be sensitised about dealing with the victimised and poor people with dignity.

c) Counselling should be available for youth in health centres for STI/ HIV/AIDS and pre-marrage pregnancies. And such people should be treated with dignity.