APSCPCR unveils plan for sex workers’ children

Vijayawada: Dr J Rajendra Prasad, member, Andhra Pradesh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (APSCPCR), said the commission would develop a two-pronged strategy to protect the rights of children of commercially sexually exploited women and address the various problems faced by their children in the state.

Dr Rajendra Prasad along with APSCPCR members B Padmavathi and Adi Lakshmi launched the research report titled ‘Situation of Education and Vulnerability of Children of Victims of Commercial Sexual Exploitation in AP’. This study was conducted by APSCPCR in collaboration with HELP NGO on Wednesday.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Rajendra Prasad said that firstly, provision should be made for the second generation, i.e. children of sex workers who are currently staying with their parents. This includes both the present generation and the adolescents above 15 years of age, to impart life skills and vocational training, thus facilitating their livelihood till they become self-reliant. The APSCPCR is committed to developing a constructive action plan for this purpose.

Dr Saraswathi Raju Ayyar, Professor of Social Work at Acharya Nagarjuna University, who conducted the study, said the findings of the study showed that children of sex workers do not go to schools due to the prevailing social stigma and discrimination by other children in schools and society.

B. Padmavathi suggested that it would be more effective if the children of sex workers were covered under the Targeted Interventions of the AP State AIDS Control Society, with a focus on education, mental health, nutrition and child development interventions, while also providing support services for their mothers.

HELP Secretary Rammohan Nimma Raju, Nodal Officer of the Ministry of Education M Soma Sekhar and others participated.