KOLKATA: Sex workers in West Bengal are set to introduce Multipurpose Cooperative Bank across the Indian state under the aegis of their forum styled ‘Durbar’.

The bank will allow them to deposit money from the red-light world and enjoy lone facilities.

Acting member of Durbar Cooperative Division Shantanu Chatterjee told the banglanews24.com.bd correspondent that initially they would introduce two branches in Shiliguri and Dinhata.

The cooperative has over 500 members in Shiliguri and 480 in Dinhata.

“New branches would be set up in Durgapur and Basirhat within six months,” Shantanu said about the novel banking ventures.

Durbar also initiated branches in Asansole, Nadia, Kharagpur, Kanthi, Dhulian, Alipurduar and Changrabanda where a daily saving scheme has been launched allowing sex workers to open accounts and borrow money.

Durbar coordinator Mahasweta Bhattacharya said, “Sex workers are buying lands and houses and bearing their children’s educational expenses through financial support from the bank.”

Durbar in Kolkata had launched a movement for establishing a cooperative in 2001 to come out from seclusion into social activities.

In January 2009, they set up cooperative bank Usha in Sonagachhi following approval from the Cooperative Ministry. It now has 14,000 members from what is known as the oldest profession.

According to sources, annual turnover of transactions with the bank come to over Rs 11 crore. Some 2,400 sex workers were lent Rs 2.5 crore last year.

BDST: 1432HRS, JULY 16, 2010