The Me by Me project is a UNDP initiative that conducted capacity building workshops in pictorial documentation to sex workers (male and female) and their children.
The reality of sex workers is often
documented from the perspective of project planners and implementers. They are
yet to move beyond the box of being recipients of ‘welfare schemes’ and ‘health
education’. They are also relentlessly part of debates about the ‘rightness’ of
their existence.
In all this, their realities often get muddied in theories and moral discourses.
In all this, their realities often get muddied in theories and moral discourses.
I devised a 41 day project in 2007 in which 426 sex workers from 16 districts in 6 Indian states
participated, The project was supported by 7 trainers, 46
individuals from 34 NGOs and 13 UNDP-TAHA team members.
Me by Me was
covered in 31 electronic and print media.
Me by Me workshops were conducted in 16
districts within six states of India. These are listed below:
- Andhra Pradesh: Warangal,
Guntur, Vijaywada, Vishakapatnam
- Uttar Pradesh:
- Orissa: Angul,
A total of seven trainers were
chosen to conduct the workshops on the basis of their previous work experience,
fluency in the local language, availability of coinciding dates, and comfort
level with working in the target community. Trainers were provided with a 4 day
training syllabus that they then used as a guideline to formulate their own
training modules. They were remunerated based on the number of days they worked
on the project.
At the state level, the Me by Me
project received administrative assistance from the TAHA SPMU
staff and the SACS. The SPMU
personnel, in collaboration with the NGOs involved, contacted participants,
organized the venue, drafted a budget for expenses and organized accommodation
and transport for all those involved in the project. In addition, coordinators
from the TAHA secretariat in Delhi
The workshops included some basic
theory of photography (light, colour, image, reflection, shadow, distance) and
how to use a camera most effectively. The importance of photo-documentation and
the various uses of photographs were discussed at length. Participants gave
examples of how the camera will come in handy as an advocacy tool for them.
They were taught basic techniques of photography and were given photography
assignments during the training. The photographs they took were discussed at
length with the trainer- what they liked/ didn’t like, common mistakes, execution
of ideas, and so on. Photographs from each participant were chosen for the
exhibition on the last day. A VIP and the press were invited for this. The
reviews received from the media were evidence of how this training has been
successful in improved advocacy for the sex workers community. Below are a few
excerpts from press reviews and some quotes from the participants.
Press reviews: Me by Me in
the News
Right from the horses mouth. That’s
what UNDP’s Me by Me is all about. Sex workers shall tell their own
stories through pictorial documentation of their moment to moment struggle for
life and minute to minute battle against indignity, rejection and
discrimination.
- Hindustan Times, Lucknow, Uttar
Pradesh, 9th of February, 2007.
Take me as I am” seemed to be what
each photograph at this exhibition held at Hotel Hindustan International today
wanted to convey.
“Only someone like me can understand
the life I lead. I live two lives ~ that of a normal man at home and a woman in
my community of people with similar orientations. These photographs have helped
me come out of the closet,” said Rajkumar Das, a transgender sex-worker and a
Plus member.
- Calcutta Plus, 20th of
February, 2007.
Sex workers from Muzafarpur
participated in the Me by Me workshop that has culminated in an
exhibition being held here. The photographs are a reflection of the
participants own interests and concerns.
- Rashtriya Sahara, Patna, 28th
of February, 2007.
Participants’ quotes:
"In every area everybody is
discriminating sex workers. They don’t give houses for rent to them. Now we can
take photos the housing situations, and give a memorandum to the Government
Officials like District Collector"
"When I clicked my first photo, I saw the flash. That
was the happiest moment. I am really excited. Now I am also a photographer"
"Nobody believes when we say our problems. Now we show
our problems through photos. Definitely they will believe."
"What the Resource Person taught us,
fixed in our minds as a film role fixes in a camera"
"We can’t forget what we learn here
as we cannot forget the smell of earth as the first rain drop falls on earth."
"We have a severe eve teasing problem in our areas. Now
we can fight against them with photo evidences. Some times the police also don’t
trust us even if we say that we are Peer Educators. They take us to police
station by force. Now we take pictures of those situations"
"I am illiterate – I have not been able to take notes
but I have them memorized by heart."
"We can earn money by taking photos in our NGO’s
programs like AASHA campaign. From here onwards we will be the photographers in
our NGOs"
"Usually in the hospitals, the medical staff ill-treats
us. Now we take photos of those situations to give complaints against them."
"Photography will help us to tell about our lives,
families, sorrows, happiness things to the world. Now we are able to tell the Government about our
problems with photo evidences"
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