Udupi: Speaking to the media after the review meeting of the Department of Women and Child Welfare Umashree said that it is a controversial issue,  whether to legalise sex work or not.

As it is a sensitive issue, a committee will be formed to have a detailed study on how to rehabilitate them. Our society has a bad image of sex workers.

They are hesitant to come forward to share their problems openly or to avail any given assistance from the government. She said there are pro and anti-voices against the legalization of prostitution. However, the legalization of flesh trade demands laborious process involving in depth inquiry into many aspects.

She directed DC to reserve D- grade jobs in the government sectors to the transgender’s who wanted to have a normal life. There are nine transgenders in the district. They will be provided residential layout at Brahmavar.

She added that the Anganavadi workers should not be given all the work burden. The department of Women and Child Welfare is completely dependent on anganawadi workers, it should not happen. She requested the officials to show some commitment to service.

After reviewing the help line numbers, for senior citizens (1090), women (1091) and children (1098) she ordered that it should work 24×7. The numbers should also be displayed at every government building, she added.

“Malnutrition, cases are found from the age group of 0-3. The problem is that the parents find no time to feed their children even though nutritious food is supplied through aganawadi’s. Hence forth the factories will be told to arrange creches where the children could be fed”,she asserted.

She said there were 147 cases are reported in Udupi district under Women Atrocities Act. Of which 85 are in Court, 62 are solved through counseling and 32 have been sort out.