Aastha Parivaar

Aastha Parivaar is dedicated to empowering sex workers (SWs) and their communities in Mumbai and Thane. It serves as an umbrella body representing various sex worker communities, including street-based, brothel-based, home-based, male sex workers, and hijra/transgender sex workers to address their common issues and needs such as health, human rights, legal literacy, literacy, and support for their children.

Major Interventions:

HIV Support: Aastha Parivaar continues its targeted HIV intervention work with residential bar and brothel-based populations. These initiatives aim to reduce the incidence of HIV and sexually transmitted infections among sex workers and their partners through implementation partners.

Healthcare Services: The CBOs conduct monthly health camps and bi-annual HIV testing camps, and provide care for members who have tested HIV positive. These services benefit both members and non-members, including general health camps, nutritional camps, and vitamin distribution, all offered free of cost.

Alternative Livelihoods: It offers alternative livelihood opportunities to sex workers and their children through its Community-Based Organizations (CBOs). The aim is to create self-sustaining income-generation methods within their communities. ​

Children's Support: Aastha Parivaar provides remedial education workshops for children aged 5 to 8, scholarships for children of CBO members, and midday meals for street children. The Orphan and Vulnerable Children initiative offers health, nutritional, and psychosocial support, and protection to those in need.​

Advocacy and Capacity Building: Aastha Parivaar collaborates with civil society organizations to advocate for improved policies on neglected sexual and reproductive health and rights issues. CBOs conduct police sensitization workshops, liaise with banks for easier account openings, and attend regular government meetings to stay informed on developments.​