kolkata sex workers in india now have the option of taking out life insurance cover a move they hope will speed up their bid to legalise the profession a charity said on mondaysex workers approached life insurance corporation of india which agreed to provide insurance coverage said smarajit jana chief adviser to durbar mahila samanwaya committee committee for indomitable women a group representing 65000 sex workerswe have started by signing up 199 sex workers in sonagachi one of asias largest red light districts housing over 10000 women involved in the business he saidsex workers in sonagachi in the sprawling city of kolkata can earn as much as three hundred rupees seven dollars a day they have been offered quarterly premiums of rs 25250 for policies worth rs 5000 to rs 30000 jana saidprostitution is illegal in india where according to the national aids control organisation there are 12 million sex workersour target is to bring 50 per cent of the sex workers of the country under the insurance coverage by 2008 jana saidan official of the staterun life insurance corporation of india gita chatterjee said the company is ready to sell the concept jevan madhur plan as a micro insurance policy specially designed for sex workersthe policy will not cover accidental deaths or disability due to intentional selfinjury suicide insanity or immorality under the influence of drugs liquor or narcotics she saidas life risk is covered the only condition set by lic is a routine medical checkup for these women since they are at a high risk of hivaids she saidsex worker swapna gayen hailed the move as a victory for sex workers it would put our campaign a step forward to legalise our profession said gayen 30