Teaching Indian sex workers to spot fake currency
In the eastern Indian city of Calcutta, a non-governmental organisation has started a programme to help sex workers recognise fake currency given to them by clients, reports the BBC's Rahul Tandon.
It is another busy day for Satabadi Jana in one of Asia's largest red-light districts, Sonagachi, where more than 10,000 prostitutes live and work.
A group of sex workers is crammed into a small room, which serves as Ms Jana's office. They listen carefully to what she has to say.
Normally, they come here to get advice about how to avoid contracting HIV.
But today, the subject on the agenda is how to spot a forged bank note.
...
"All of the girls are afraid to go to the police. They fear that they will end up being arrested if they go and complain.
"Anyway who is going to listen to a sex worker?" she asks.
Shefali Roy, who has received many fake notes, says: "If I go to the authorities, I will lose business. If my clients know that I have been to the police, they will stop coming here. And then how will I survive? It is better to just keep quiet."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-21940666
