Udupi: Deputy Commissioner Hephsiba Rani Korlapati said  that a district-level Advisory Committee/Cell has been formed to improve the living standards of woman sex workers and to take up rehabilitation programmes for them in Udupi district. She was chairing a meeting at the District Offices Complex here.

Ms. Korlapati said that at present there were no proper figures about woman sex workers in the district. It was necessary to collect proper figures about them through non-governmental organisations.

Woman sex workers could approach the Women and Child Welfare Department and give information personally or through a letter. The information given by them would be kept confidential. They would be provided with facilities drawn up by the government for them, she said. Deputy Director of Women and Child Welfare Gracy Gonsalves said that 32 woman sex workers had been provided with facilities under the Chetana Scheme since 2015. They were given interest-free loans under the scheme. The target for this year was to provide facilities to six woman sex workers, she said.

Sripad Bhat, member of the district-level committee, and others were present.