NEW DELHI: India has at least 8.6 lakh female sex workers and Andhra Pradesh has the maximum 1.56 lakh practicing the trade while Delhi has nearly 61,000 of them. Karnataka and Maharashtra have third and fourth highest number of female sex workers.In response to a RTI application filed by Delhi resident Ved Pal, the health and family ministry has said that the estimate of female sex workers is based on a mapping study undertaken in 2009. About 19% of the sex workers were unregistered.“Total number of registered sex workers is 6.96 lakh as per information from state AIDS control societies. This number is based on the line listing of targeted interventions in the states and it may change as per the new registrations,” the ministry said in its reply.According to the ministry’s response, it’s not mandatory for sex workers to register themselves under targeted intervention. On the facilities provided to sex workers by both central and state governments, the ministry said under targeted intervention programme National Aids Control Organisation provides prevention services including behaviour change communication through counselling, treatment of sexually transmitted infection, condom promotion and free distribution. Moreover, it provides general services, enabling environment, linkages and referrals.