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Project : Guriya Project 
State :  Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
Development Focus: Rehabilitation of Women in Prostitution(WIP)

About the NGO*:  The NGO led by Mr Ajit Singh has been working since 1993 to (i) eliminate second generation prostitution (ii) prevent child prostitution (iii) campaign against sex tourism (iv) create awareness among WIP of their human & civil rights & empower them (v) take up advocacy work to effect appropriate changes in the legislation, policy, & programs (vi) campaign against discrimination in the name of HIV/AIDS as well as increase awareness about related health risks. 

Existing Conditions:  WIP are victims of indifference of the society. Deeply caught in the web of criminals, pimps & social apathy these women often find themselves helpless to get out of the trade. Offering alternate livelihoods is a viable option. Historically, most of the women from these communities have been professional specialists in vocal music and dance. 
Guriya is attempting  to highlight the indigenous traditions of folk music and culture, now entangled with commercial sex work . 

Objectives of Project: 
Organize Festival of WIP where the women will present dadra, ghazal, folk songs (such as Magadhi, Bhojpuri, etc.), folk dances (such as rai), folk theater  (such as nautanki), qawwali, etc which aims to:  (a) Build confidence among the WIP with regards to alternative economic opportunities that are available to them 
(b) Mobilization of cultural groups which are repositories of India's classical and folk music tradition  (c) Building a community that is sensitized to the women of the world's oldest known profession and their aesthetic/artistic component.

Requested Budget: $2,500 per festival * 10 festivals = $25,000
Status: Approved Conditionally

Project Coordinator: Harish Sharma, Jyotsna Natarajan 
Contact Email: austinaider@yahoo.com, jyotsna_n@hotmail.com

Additional Information
Project Proposal:   guriya_proposal.doc
Presentation Slides: 
Pictures: Guriya
Visit Report:  sitevisit.doc
Correspondence Notes: 1.doc
Relevant Minutes: Feb 22, 2003;

 Related Articles:
1 .  No dumb dolls
2 .  Guriya - Where sex workers earn respect
  

*NGO: Non-governmental Organization