The Supreme Court today directed the Centre and states to prepare suitable rehabilitation schemes for the welfare of sex workers. A bench of justices Markandeya Katju and Gyan Sudha Mishra directed the central and state governments to prepare schemes for giving technical and vocational training to sex workers and sexually abused women in all cities in India. The schemes should mention in detail who will give the technical and vocational training and in what manner they can be rehabilitated and settled by offering them employment. Observing that sex workers are also entitled to the protection of Article 21(Liberty), the apex court said the Centre and state governments through Social Welfare Boards should prepare schemes for rehabilitation for prostitutes. The apex court passed the order while dismissing the appeal filed by Budhadev Karmaskar challenging the life imprisonment imposed by a sessions court in Kolkata for the murder of a sex worker in 1999. The Calcutta High Court had confirmed the penalty, following which he appealed in the apex court.