Aastha Parivaar

Aastha Parivaar is an organization of, for, and by sex workers (SWs). It envisions a community of sex workers that are healthy, united, and empowered to independently manage their affairs thereby living with self-respect, dignity, and pride, free from the discrimination and stigmatization that often accompanies their profession. It provides a common platform to all types of sex workers (SWs) in Mumbai and Thane to address their common issues and needs such as health, human rights, crisis intervention, legal literacy, literacy, and support for their children.

Key Programs:

• HIV Interventions: Aastha continues its HIV targeted intervention work with residential bar & brothel-based population. Through these interventions, they increase awareness of HIV transmission, prevention, protection, treatment and care, as well as shift high risk behavioral patterns using behavioral change communication.
• Alternative Opportunities: Through their CBOs, Aastha works to increase the capacities of community members. With income generation activities such as Chocolate making, Imitation jewelry, Mehndhi, tailoring and beautician services, they offer alternative livelihood possibilities to SWs and their children.
• Children: Children of SWs are provided with remedial education workshops from ages 5 to 8, scholarships to children of CBO members and midday meals to street children by the NGO. The Orphan and Vulnerable Children initiative enables health, nutritional and psycho-social support and protection to the ones in need.
• Healthcare: CBOs provide various health services benefitting both, CBO members and non-members. These include general health camps, nutritional camps, and vitamin distribution camps free of cost.
• AmplifyChange: It collaborates hundreds of civil society organisations (CSOs) across the world to advocate for improved policy and action on the most neglected sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) issues like stigma, discrimination, attitudes, medical aid and policies which are discussed with the intent to develop capacities of community members to be able to identify their needs and concerns on priority basis.

The NGO has strengthened and increased advocacy work with various stakeholders in the community including brothel managers, gurus in the transgender community, and the police. The CBOs conduct police sensitization workshops and also liaise with banks for easy bank account openings and attend regular government meetings to keep abreast of developments.