Dr Smarajit Jana was an epidemiologist who curbed the spread of HIV through sex work at the height of the epidemic in the 90’s. He realised that combating HIV was not a question of information but of empowerment, and led a structural change fighting for sex workers’ rights. He helped the country’s administration understand the sex work community and flipped the HIV control programme’s disease-centric perspective to a rights based one.

Dr Jana passed away earlier this month on May 8 due to COVID-19. He was also a member of the National Task Force on COVID-19. On this episode of The Suno India Show, reporter Suryatapa Mukherjee explores Dr Jana’s legacy. She speaks to K Sujatha Rao, former Secretary of Health and Family Welfare, and Bharati Dey, head of sex workers’ collective Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee. We look back at how a public health worker began a fight for sex workers in Asia’s largest red light district, Sonagachi, that reverberated across the world.

The Sonagachi project: a sustainable community intervention program
Dr. Smarajit Jana  – The DMSS  project with sex workers in Kolkata:  challenges and achievements

Dr Smarajit Jana was an epidemiologist who curbed the spread of HIV through sex work at the height of the epidemic in the 90&rsquo;s. He realised that combating HIV was not a question of information but of empowerment, and led a structural change fighting for sex workers&rsquo; rights. He helped the country&rsquo;s administration understand the sex work community and flipped the HIV control programme&rsquo;s disease-centric perspective to a rights based one.
Dr Jana passed away earlier this month on May 8 due to COVID-19. He was also a member of the National Task Force on COVID-19. On this episode of The Suno India Show, reporter Suryatapa Mukherjee explores Dr Jana&rsquo;s legacy. She speaks to&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/sujakrao">K Sujatha Rao</a>, former Secretary of Health and Family Welfare, and&nbsp;<a href="https://durbar.org/key-people/">Bharati Dey</a>, head of sex workers&rsquo; collective&nbsp;<a href="https://durbar.org/">Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee</a>. We look back at how a public health worker began a fight for sex workers in Asia&rsquo;s largest red light district, Sonagachi, that reverberated across the world.
<a href="https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.460.7751&amp;rep=rep1&amp;type=pdf">The Sonagachi project: a sustainable community intervention program</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTF5WCQjK6o&amp;ab_channel=TheVrindaProject">Dr. Smarajit Jana&nbsp; &ndash; The DMSS&nbsp; project with sex workers in Kolkata:&nbsp; challenges and achievements</a>

The Suno India Show’ is a news show by Suno India combining slow journalism with under-represented and under-reported stories. Covering the diverse range of topics like politics, technology, education and society, the host brings in informative interviews and engaging discussions with experts. The show not only shines a spotlight on stories that matter but keeps the listeners up to date with the latest national news.

The Suno India Show&rsquo; is a news show by Suno India combining slow journalism with under-represented and under-reported stories. Covering the diverse range of topics like politics, technology, education and society, the host brings in informative interviews and engaging discussions with experts. The show not only shines a spotlight on stories that matter but keeps the listeners up to date with the latest national news.

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