In response to a 1992 survey in Sonagachi, the largest red light district in Asia, the All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health initiated an intervention program to combat STIs and HIV among sex workers. This initiative evolved into the Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee (DMSC), a forum of sex workers in West Bengal, India, representing about 50,000 sex workers. DMSC has played a pivotal role in improving the lives of sex workers and their families over the past 30 years, challenging myths and stigmas associated with their profession. DMSC provides health services, including HIV/STI support, and runs 38 clinics across West Bengal. The organization’s mission is to establish the rights and dignity of sex workers globally, focusing on self-esteem, societal norms, and empowerment through collectivization, addressing power relations, and building alliances. With their Red Umbrella Fund grant, DMSC plans to undertake capacity-building for sex workers, training them to engage with officials, organizing fairs to combat societal stigma, negotiating with policymakers, and interacting with the police to change policies and legislation that disempower sex workers. The goal is to enhance the representation, participation, and access to services for sex workers, promoting their rights and dignity.