Dr Smarajit Jana

Dr. Jana is currently at the post of Principal, affiliated to Sonagachi Research and Training Institute (SRTI). Previously, he has served as National Program Advisor at National AIDS Control Organization, Government of India, from 2007 to 2009. Prior to that, he was the Assistant Country Director at CARE India from August 2003 to March 2006 followed by, Regional HIV Advisor overseeing 15 countries in Asia region under CARE USA till September 2006.

He has initiated one of the most successful intervention program among the sex workers of Kolkata, India, which is known as Sonagachi Project, presently owned and managed by the Organization of sex workers called Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee, representing 65 thousand sex workers (male, female and trans gender). He also worked as a board member of Indian Chapter of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the secretariat member of the Regional Partnership Forum under UNAIDS & UNFPA. He served as a member of the National AIDS Council, chaired by the Prime Minister of India from April 2011-2014. He acted as a member on the National panel constituted by the Supreme Court of India to look into Rights, Rehabilitation and trafficking issues pertaining to sex worker from 2010-2016. He was awarded the Public excellence award in the year 1999.