Mumbai: In a move that will help thousands, sex workers in Maharashtra will be given financial aid of Rs 5,000 per month from October to December.
The state government, on Thursday, issued an order regarding the matter. Yashomati Thakur, Women and Child Development Minister of Maharashtra said that the state government will be spending over Rs 50 crore towards the scheme.
A special allowance will also be extended towards sex workers who have school-going children. “Sex workers have been helped by the state government during the pandemic.
We have just issued a GR under which the right to livelihood has been made available to sex workers in the state. Maharashtra is the first state to come up with such a provision. We have allocated Rs 51.18 crore towards the same,” Thakur told to media.
31,000 people to benefit from the scheme
“Those sex workers who have school-going children will be provided additional Rs 2,500,” the State Women and Child Development Ministry said on Thursday. The ministry further said that nearly 31,000 beneficiaries have been identified.
The announcement comes at a time when Maharashtra is staring at an increased number of COVID-19 cases. On Thursday, Maharashtra recorded 6,406 new infections and the tally crossed the critical 18 lakh-cases marks to reach 18,02,365.
While Maharashtra, which was one of the worst-affected states due to COVID-19 had imposed a lockdown from March 24. While most major activities in the state have resumed, certain industries, continue to remain affected.
On Wednesday, the Home Ministry announced revised guidelines to be followed by states in order to counter the spread of COVID-19.
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