Destitute home programme gets funds, but no land yet

Vidyakar’s social organisation `Udavum Karangal’ (Helping Hands) has received another shot in the arm in the form of a Rs 10 lakh donation from the Art of Giving Foundation. Vidyakar was handed over a preliminary cheque of Rs 4 lakh by the `Art of Giving’ foundation representatives Dolly Thakore, Geeta Mirchandani and Devika Bhojwani at Thakore’s residence this afternoon. “As a certain project is already underway in Chennai, this Rs 4 lakh will be utilised for that initially. Later, we will also generate more funds for the destitute home inMumbai. But as soon as we get the land, we will begin work in a makeshift hut,” Vidyakar told The Indian Express.

“The Art of Giving foundation plans to work closely with Udavum Karangal. At present, we are helping them set up a small office with just a desk and a telephone at Marine Lines. In the future, we may even plan a fund-raising event exclusively for this cause,” added Bhojwani.

Vidyakar first thought of such a home when a lot of HIV positive sex-workers from Kamathipura started turning up in Chennai. Barely two out of ten such women find their way to Udhavam Karangal, the rest continue to wander on the roads. Another reason is that a lot of these women hail from South India and often want to send their children to boarding schools which would teach them their mother-tongue.

In order to facilitate this, Udhavam Karangal will work in tandem with Priti Patkar’s Prerana, an organisation that works with children of sex workers in Kamathipura.

“We won’t undertake the rescue operations of sexworkers as we do not want to antagonise people in the area. However, if any rescued girl is sent to us, we would certainly accomodate her in our destitute home,” said Vidyakar. The proposed home is to house 100 women and their children. A separate unit for terminally ill AIDS patients will also be included. As for the rehabiliation of these women, activities like chalk-making and candle-making which do not have the slightest perceived risk of HIV-transmission will be introduced.