Advertisement for Research Project: Identifying Changing trends in the sex work dynamics among Female sex workers in India Project Brief:

Sex work is widespread in India. Female sex workers (FSWs) are an important at-risk group recognized in the National AIDS Control Program Phase Four (NACP IV). There are different typologies of FSW defined by Indias National AIDS Control Organization (NACO the national structure, facilitating implementing HIV program) and include brothel-based, street-based, home-based, lodge-based, dhaba (roadside eatery)-based and highway-based FSWs. These typologies of FSWs are intervened by Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) through a structured HIV prevention program, Targeted Interventions (TIs), supported by NACO, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India at the national level, and State AIDS Control Society at the State level. However, these TIs do not capture sex work at massage parlors, bars, holiday homes, rental homes, solicitation through mobiles, social networking sites and other modes.

New technologies, changing social relations, and shifting social and sexual boundaries have shaped the sex industry in many ways. Wide spread availability and accessibility of Internet has provided opportunities to sell sex all over the globe (Bernstein, 2007). With the advance of technology through social media and mobile phones, the platform of the sex industry is changing rapidly and there is an increasing number of sex workers using these mediums for solicitation.

To address this gap, a study has been requested by NACO to identify new and hidden forms of FSWs and to understand the changing trends in sex work dynamics among FSWs in India. The study will be led by Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), in design, implementation and dissemination, while FHI-360 will provide both financial and technical support in all the stages of the study. FHI-360 along with NACO, will supervise and monitor the study on progress and ensure strict implementation of the approved protocol. The findings will provide guidance for NACO to formulate strategies to reach the new and hidden FSWs and to align the current national HIV prevention efforts to the changing network and solicitation dynamics of sex workers in India. NACO has endorsed the study which will be conducted in two districts within each of eight states in India. The selected states are: Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Kerala, Maharashtra, Manipur, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. The study has been approved by the Government of India Health Ministry Screening Committee (HMSC). TATA Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai will implement activities with technical support from FHI-360 under USAID/LINKAGES project.

Post: Data Entry Operator

No. of Vacancy: 07

Location: Maharashtra

Duration: 03 months