Archive · 3 Aug 2026
Saheli Empowers Pune Sex Workers with Health, Rights, Livelihood
Saheli is a group in Pune that helps people who sell sex.
It started in 1998 when many of them were getting sick with HIV.
The group is run by the workers themselves, so they know what people need.
They give health care, teach about safety, and help people find other jobs.
They also speak up to the government so that sex work is treated fairly and not punished unfairly.
Saheli has helped thousands of workers and their families, and no new HIV cases have been reported among its members.
The group works with other organisations to keep people healthy and safe.
Saheli shows that when people help each other, everyone can live with dignity.
Saheli, founded in 1998, is a Pune‑based non‑profit led by sex workers.
It offers HIV prevention, reproductive health, mental health, and livelihood programs.
The organisation advocates for decriminalisation and better legal protection for sex workers.
Saheli employs 16 women as sanitation workers in a CSR project to provide alternative income.
Over 4,000 sex workers and 300 children have received support from Saheli.
- Who
- Saheli, a Pune-based non‑profit led by sex workers
- What
- Provides health, legal, livelihood, and advocacy support for sex workers
- When
- Founded in 1998 and operating to present
- Where
- Pune, India
- Why
- To empower sex workers, reduce HIV, and advocate decriminalisation
- Founded
- 1998
- Location
- Pune, India
- Focus
- Sex workers' health, rights, livelihood
- Membership
- ≈2,000 registered members
- Services
- HIV prevention, reproductive health, livelihood programs