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Formal literacy program for the
children of sex workers is important and crucial in its
own right. But to enable one to get engage into a
fruitful career building process is a continuous
struggle and few can make that happen. Chances of
students remaining unemployed after secondary education
in India is extremely high. Durbar started vocational
training program during 2003 for the community members
with a modest aim to initiate some productive engagement
for aged sex workers and sex workers' children. The
Durbar Vocational Training Unit - Srishti i.e., the
creation - evolved from this need which is a self
financed venture. Srishti operates as training cum
production unit which produces various marketable goods
and services e.g. terracotta toys and figurines, soft
toys, jute bags and utility items, like beadwork toys,
badges, beautician and electrical wiring repairmen's of
instrument. At the end of six months' training
certificates are conferred to trainees which help them
to hunt appropriate jobs in the market. Srishti' does
have it own outlet in the shopping mall in Kolkata city.
Srishti also supplies its products different wholesalers
and government organization. In handicraft produced by
Sristi is sold in small markets in the outskirt of
Kolkata and in the districts.
At present Srishti has 3 such training centres - 2 in
Kolkata (at 12/5, Nilmoni Mitra Street and the other at
Abinash Kabiraj street) and the third one in Titagarh, a
small town situated 20 km North of Kolkata. Training
progam is conducted in two shifts, one prelinch i.e.
between 11am to 2pm, and the other from 3pm to 6pm. Each
batch consists of 15 students and the duration of the
training is ranging from 3 to 6 months. A total of 200
students have completed their training. Most of them
earn either independently or supply products to Srishti
who sell it to the market. The trainees who attend
classes at central offices receive a stipend of Rs.
300.00. Srishti also organizes workshops on marketing
and packaging for trainees. 3 of the trainer who has
completed beautician course in the recent past has
started a beauty parlor with financial assistance from
Durbar, 12 of the trained sex workers has come up with a
business venture who provide and manage various events
receiving orders from different organizations and are
making profit. The initial seed money was provided by
DMSC based on which they registered their even
management limited and secured trade license.
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