As part of a project to raise HIV/AIDS awareness in India, prostitutes who are routinely checked at a sexual health clinic are being awarded with discount shopping cards.

The United Nation's AIDS-prevention agency recently said India has the highest number of people infected with HIV worldwide, with approximately 5.7 million people living with the virus.

Shops and restaurants in the city of Mysore were initially reluctant to be associated with a project involving prostitutes, but they eventually changed their minds after they were convinced welcoming prostitutes carrying discount cards would bring in more paying customers.

Sushena Reza-Paul of the Karnataka Health Promotion Trust said sex workers are proud of carrying their credit-card sized discount shopping cards.

Reza-Paul told Reuters, "They tell me that only rich people can normally have these cards -- so it gives them a sense of pride and belonging."