SHILLONG, April 5: The Assembly Committee on Women Empowerment has taken serious note of the issue of sex workers in state, especially East Khasi Hills, and also suggested an in-depth inquiry into the matter.
“We are looking at the conditions, policies and plan of the government to rehabilitate the commercial sex workers. We want to have an in-depth analysis into this entire issue,” the Committee chairperson, Ampareen Lyngdoh, said on Monday.
She also informed that the Committee has summoned top officials from East Khasi Hills on April 7 to learn from them about the steps taken to reach out to these sex workers. “We are looking at this issue very seriously. The Committee would also give its recommendations to the government on the matter,” Lyngdoh added.
Earlier, Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui, during the recent Assembly budget session, had informed that NGOs have been engaged by the Meghalaya Aids Control Society (MACS) towards rehabilitating female sex workers and help them in preventing the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
He had also stressed on the need to generate awareness among sex workers on rising human trafficking and health risks associated with their profession.
