NHRC tells Gujarat to restore houses to Surat sex workers

NEW DELHI, APRIL 23: National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the Gujarat Government to restore the houses of some of the sex ...

NEW DELHI, APRIL 23: National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the Gujarat Government to restore the houses of some of the sex workers evicted by the police at Chowk Bazar area in Surat forthwith and submit an action taken report within one week.

NHRC in an order passed last week directed Surat District Collector and Commissioner of Police to open the locks of the houses of sex the workers and allow them to reoccupy the same and arrange for their rehabilitation.

The Commission asked the authorities to take appropriate steps to ensure livelihood to the helpless women, proper health check-up facilities for them and education to their childern.

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"It will be appropriate if the Chief Secretary to Gujarat Government in collaboration with the Secretary, Department of Social Welfare Board of the Union of India works out a plan for providing immediate succour for their bread and butter and daily living," the Commission said.

The NHRC directives came on complaint filed by Bhartiya Patita Udhar Sabha (BPUS), which alleged that police in December last year had forcibly evicted the sex workers from their houses.

Some of the sex workers were subsequently taken into custody and an FIR was registered against them, the BPUS alleged.

Surat Police Commissioner had also issued a notificatio on February 23 giving them a week’s time to leave the place failing which cases under Immoral Traffic (Suppression) Act would be issued against them, it said.