Center for Health Market Innovations (CHMI)

Programs

Smart Card Initiative Project

last updated Dec 18, 2012
  • Women

Overview

Implementing organization: 
Karnataka Health Promotion Trust (KHPT),
Implementation Partner(s): 
Ashodaya Mahila Samanwaya Samithi (AMSS), Pennant Consulting Services Pvt. Ltd
Legal Status: 
Private (not-for-profit)
Year Launched: 
2004
Stage: 
No longer active

Funding

Primary Source of Funding: 
Donor
Funders: 
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Technology

Technology Used: 
Smart-card
Technology Purpose: 
Other

Scale

Number of Clients Served: 
Above 1400
Summary: 

.

Key program components: 

The Smart Card Initiative in Karnataka, India seeks to bring a sense of inclusion and self-worth to sex workers, while motivating better health care practices among them. As part of this programme, sex workers are being rewarded with cash incentives in the form of a "smart card" enabling them to accumulate points to be redeemed for discounts or gifts. The only condition for keeping the card valid is that the cardholder must report at least once every 3 months to a clinic set up by the Karnataka Health Promotion Trust (KHPT), where she undergoes a thorough health check-up for any symptoms of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as HIV/AIDS.

Developed by KHPT in association with Ashodaya Mahila Samanwaya Samithi (AMSS) - an organisation of sex workers from Mysore and Mandya districts - and with funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's India AIDS Initiative, the pilot project initially involved 500 sex workers. Continuous effort on part of Ashodaya and others has ensured that KHPT reaches about 1400 female and 200 male sex workers active in Mysore city.

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