Indian sex workers get life insurance
A Life Insurance Corporation official said the company is ready to sell the insurance plan as a micro insurance policy specially designed for sex workers.
By Agencies |
KOLKATA: Sex workers in India now have the option of taking out life insurance cover -- a move they hope will speed up their bid to legalise the profession, a charity said on Monday.
"Sex workers approached Life Insurance Corporation of India, which agreed to provide insurance coverage," said Smarajit Jana, chief adviser to Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee (Committee for Indomitable Women), a group representing 65,000 sex workers.
"We have started by signing up 199 sex workers in Sonagachi, one of Asia's largest red light districts, housing over 10,000 women involved in the business," he said.
Sex workers in Sonagachi, in the sprawling city of Kolkata, can earn as much as three hundred rupees (seven dollars) a day. They have been offered quarterly premiums of Rs 25-250 for policies worth Rs 5,000 to Rs 30,000, Jana said.
Prostitution is illegal in India where, according to the National AIDS Control Organisation, there are 1.2 million sex workers.
"Our target is to bring 50 per cent of the sex workers of the country under the insurance coverage by 2008," Jana said.
An official of the state-run Life Insurance Corporation of India, Gita Chatterjee, said the company "is ready to sell the concept Jevan Madhur plan as a micro insurance policy specially designed for sex workers."
"The policy will not cover accidental deaths or disability due to intentional self-injury, suicide, insanity or immorality under the influence of drugs, liquor or narcotics," she said.
"As life risk is covered, the only condition set by LIC is a routine medical check-up for these women since they are at a high risk of HIV/AIDS," she said.
Sex worker Swapna Gayen hailed the move as "a victory for sex workers." "It would put our campaign a step forward to legalise our profession," said Gayen, 30.
"Sex workers approached Life Insurance Corporation of India, which agreed to provide insurance coverage," said Smarajit Jana, chief adviser to Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee (Committee for Indomitable Women), a group representing 65,000 sex workers.
"We have started by signing up 199 sex workers in Sonagachi, one of Asia's largest red light districts, housing over 10,000 women involved in the business," he said.
Sex workers in Sonagachi, in the sprawling city of Kolkata, can earn as much as three hundred rupees (seven dollars) a day. They have been offered quarterly premiums of Rs 25-250 for policies worth Rs 5,000 to Rs 30,000, Jana said.
Prostitution is illegal in India where, according to the National AIDS Control Organisation, there are 1.2 million sex workers.
"Our target is to bring 50 per cent of the sex workers of the country under the insurance coverage by 2008," Jana said.
An official of the state-run Life Insurance Corporation of India, Gita Chatterjee, said the company "is ready to sell the concept Jevan Madhur plan as a micro insurance policy specially designed for sex workers."
"The policy will not cover accidental deaths or disability due to intentional self-injury, suicide, insanity or immorality under the influence of drugs, liquor or narcotics," she said.
"As life risk is covered, the only condition set by LIC is a routine medical check-up for these women since they are at a high risk of HIV/AIDS," she said.
Sex worker Swapna Gayen hailed the move as "a victory for sex workers." "It would put our campaign a step forward to legalise our profession," said Gayen, 30.
Download
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
Download
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
ADVERTISEMENT
