Trained staff and volunteers of Yuvsatta have been employed to counsel the sex workers.

'Most female sex workers are from marginalized sections of society. They are most vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases because of illiteracy, ignorance and unhygienic living conditions,' said Kavita Chawan, additional director the of State AIDS Control Society.

She added: 'Such a centre was the need of the hour and we hope that these women who most of the times remain at the receiving end will now act here as 'agents of social change'. We are also ready to offer any kind of help in this initiative.'