First National Conference of Sex Workers in India
Second Invitation September 29, 1997

Dear Friend,

We hope you have meanwhile received our First letter of invitation to the First National Conference of Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee scheduled for 14-16th November, 1997 in Calcutta (India).

This letter is to renew the invitation and intimate to you the following information about your participation in the said conference:

1. Please make sure that your team comprises at least one member belonging to the community of sex workers or the beneficiary group.
2. We shall provide for your board and lodging for the period of 13^th - 16^th November, 1997. Please let us know your travel scedule.

3. We have already arranged for your accomodation at Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Saltlake stadium). However, if you prefer to put up at any other place at your own expenses, please let us know in advance. You may consult the enclosure.

4. Please confirm your participation and send us the form No.(1) duly filled in by November 6th, 1997

5. We regret that we won't be able to bear your travel expenses from your place to Calcutta, the venue of conference. However we have arranged to pick you up from Airport/ Railway Station to your hotel and venue of conference.

If you need any other information, kindly write to us or phone us at the address mentioned below.

With warm regards
Yours sincerely

Ms. Sadhana Mukherjee, Secretary
Ms. Mala Singh, Convenor

Please send your queries to:

• Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee
  8/2 Bhawani Dutta Lane,
  Calcutta 700 073, INDIA
  Tel: 241 6283/6200
  Fax: 91 33 241 6283
  Email: sjana@giascl01.vsnl.net.in

More About Calcutta

Calcutta, vibrant, volatile, the city of joy — is also a city of strange paradoxes and one that leaves an indelible impression on the visitors. Imperial edifices, teeming bazars, museums and elegant hotels are some of the memorable images of Calcutta.

Some sightseeing spots

Forming the green heart of the city is the expanse of lawns known as maidan, bordered on one side by the river Hooghly and on the other by an elegant boulevard the Chowringhee on which the venue for our congress Ð the Oberoi Grand is located. Around it are many interesting sightseeing spots like:

Victoria Memorial:

An imposing museum built of marble by the British as a memorial to the Great Queen Victoria. It has the collection of historical documents AND objects especially the victorian era.

Birla Planetarium:

Which is one of the largest planetarium in the world.

Zoological Gardens:

Exhibiting numerous species of animals, rare birds and various other wild-life.

Vidyasagar Setu:

The longest cable staid bridge connecting Calcutta & Howrah, with dual carriage way broad enough to carry six cars side by side located at the south -west end of the city.

Indian Museum:

Largest of its kind in India providing valuable objects of ancient heritage.

The Metro:

The exclusive underground railway service being the first of its kind in India.

Botanical Gardens:

Originally laid out in 1786 with the famous two hundred years old banyan tree, is the largest in the world, situated in Shibpur, Howrah.

St. Paul's Cathedral:

Designed by a military architect, the cathedral is a pleasing building; the tower, a copy of the Bell Harry Tower at Canterbury, is an attractive landmark.

Nicco Park:

It is the latest amusement park at Salt Lake attracting huge crowds of young and old.

Kali Temple:

A famous temple of godess Kali supposed to have been built 350 years ago. A legend goes that when the corpus of Sati, wife of Shiva, was cut into pieces by sudarshan chakra, one of her fingers fell here. It is a pilgrimage of Hindus at Kalighat, in south Calcutta.

Birla Mandir:

A beautiful temple of Lord Krishna and Radha.

Dakshineswar Temple:

Situated on the bank of Ganges, is the famous temple of Godess Kali and 12 temples of Lord Shiva. Here, the great saint Ramakrishna Paramahansna worshipped Godess Kali.

Belur Math:

Adjacent to Dakshineswar Temple, is the Belur Math. Its picturesque view, its peaceful and calm atmosphere is befitting the gravity of place. It runs among other things, an industrial school, an art college and a charitable dispensary.

Mother House:

It is situated at A.J.C.Bose Rd, where late Mother Terresa was buried.

Science City:

A new millennium campus for Science, Education and Environment. The only one of its kind in Asia. It is the most exciting multidimensional world you've ever encountered.

Shopping Spree:

For the market-crazy people - the New Market, Ballygunge New Market, the Shreeram arcade, Dakhinapan which is a collection of emporiums of various states of India, Central cottage industries emporium at 7, Jawaharlal Nehru Road, are the shoppers' paradise.

Short Tours

For those who can spare some more time for local excursions, some interesting destinations within easy reach are:

Govt. of India:

Full-day tours (except Mondays) by coach last from 0800 to 1700 hours with a one-hour lunch break. Coaches leave at 0745 hours form the Tourist Office at 4 Shakespeare Sarani and tickets, at Rs. 60/- should be bought in advance from there. The itinerary for the morning tour includes the commercial area (BBD Bagh), Belur Math, Dakhineswar temple, Jain temple, Victoria Memorial and Nicco Park. The afternoon tour covers the Indian Museum, Jawaharlal sishu Bhawan, Zoological Garden and Rabindra Sarobar (Lake). Half-day tours are also operated at Rs. 40/-. Tours terminate near the Birla Planetarium.

Sundarban Tiger reserve:

The estuarine forest in the delta of the Ganga, habitat of the famous Royal Bengl Tigar.

Diamond Harbour:

A beach resort on the Hooghly river.

Shantiniketan:

The University town with its charming pastorals setup by Rabindranath Tagore lays stress on man's relationship with nature.

Darjeeling:

Queen of the Hills — this hill station is renowned for its exclusive scenic beauties.

Weather

Here in Calcutta, November is pleasantly cool with temperatures from 14 degree celsius to 20 degree celsius, needing light woollens in the evenings.

List of Hotels

(with approx. tariff)

Group A:

Taj Bengal, Oberoi Grand, Hotel Ashok International, Park Hotel, Hindustan International
Single: Rs.3500-5000 + Tax
Double: Rs.3800-6000 + Tax
Suite: Rs.4800-8500 + Tax

Group B:

New Kenil Worth International, Great Eastern Hotel, Peerless Inn Hotel, Hotel Ratt-Deen, Astor Hotel
Single: Rs.1000-1500 + Tax
Double: Rs.1300-2800 + Tax
Suite: Rs.2500-3500 + Tax.

Group C:

Hotel Shalimar, Lindsay Guest House, Restoria Guest House, Hotel Bliss, Asia Hotel, Carlton Hotel
Single: Rs.150-500 + Tax
Double: Rs.200-800 + Tax
Suite: Rs.800 + Tax.

Group D:

Guest Houses and Hostels, seats are limited.
Single: Rs.50-150 + Tax;
Double: Rs.100-200 + Tax

Airline Offices

• British Airways
  41, Chowringhee Road
  Middleton Street Crossing
  Calcutta 700 071
  Tel: 033 293430
• Air India
  50, Chowringhee Road
  Opp. St. Paul's Cathedral
  Calcutta 700 071
  Tel: 033 2422356/7
• Indian Airlines
  39, Chittaranjan Avenue
  Calcutta 700 013
  Tel: 033 266869/ 262415/ 262657 5528787
• Jet Airways
  Stephen Court
  18 D, Park Street
  Calacutta 700 016
  Tel: 033 528836

Railway Booking Offices