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Indian Express
14-07-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
‘Finally seen, heard': Sex workers at India's largest red-light area Sonagachi say healthcare access has improved
From access to healthcare to a slow but steady reduction in stigma, sex workers in Kolkata's Sonagachi, which is India's largest red-light area, say they are finally being seen and heard. Once faced with discrimination and barriers to medical care, many sex workers now report improved treatment at government hospitals and clinics. 'Now we are not treated differently. I go for check-ups in government hospitals, stand in the queue like every other patient, and get treated without facing discrimination,' said Dolly, 34, a sex worker in Sonagachi. A key factor behind this shift has been the work of the Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee (DMSC) — a collective run by and for sex workers that has completed 30 years of work across West Bengal. Durbar operates 51 free clinics for sex workers in the state, including health centres in Sonagachi that offer HIV and STD testing, low-cost medicines, and regular health check-ups in safe and non-judgmental spaces. To mark its 30th anniversary, DMSC is hosting a community fair from July 12 to 15 at Rabindra Kanan Park in Kolkata, celebrating the lives and livelihood of sex workers. The event featured panel discussions with doctors from across the state, who spoke about the prevention and early detection of HIV, STDs, breast cancer and cervical cancer. Guidelines on menstrual hygiene and care during menstruation were also shared. 'Previously there was a taboo — people believed sex workers were not from our class, not like us,' said Dr Soma Dutta, a Kolkata-based gynaecologist. 'But with more education, awareness programmes, and the consistent work by DMSC, even hospitals are more inclusive now.' 'DMSC has helped us gain confidence. Earlier, doctors and nurses refused to treat us because of our profession. Now, we are treated like any other human being,' said Nila, 45. 'After all, we are human beings too, and we deserve respect.'
Indian Express
09-05-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Anti-trafficking drives, running tuition centres: Children of sex workers in India's largest red-light area fight back against stigma
Written by Sharadiya Mitra, From conducting anti-trafficking drives to running tuition centres, children of sex workers formed an organisation in 1995 to help their peers and fight stigma in the country's largest red-light area. In the narrow lanes of Sonagachi — where red lights have long symbolized stigma and survival — a quiet revolution has been taking root. Amid daily struggles, the daughters of sex workers, once burdened by discrimination, are emerging as educators, mentors, and changemakers. Their goal is to reshape the narrative, offering hope and dignity to the next generation. This year, the DMSC is celebrating Rabindra Jayanti alongside Mother's Day, with mothers and children performing together in an act of unity, love, and resistance. 'When I was a child, society constantly reminded me of where I came from. My mother was a sex worker, and people never let me forget it,' shared a 25-year-old teacher now working with a local NGO. 'But today, I teach my daughter to hold her head high. Her grandmother did what she had to, and there's no shame in that. Now, my daughter stands beside me, working to help others.' Her story reflects a larger shift. With support from the Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee (DMSC) — a grassroots collective championing sex workers' rights — young women have been leading an initiative since 2020, focused on education, emotional support, and creative engagement for children in red-light areas. Their mission is to ensure no child grows up feeling ashamed of their roots, but instead learns to thrive in a society that often turns its back on them. Another woman, aged 32, reflected on the movement's meaning with Mother's Day approaching. 'This isn't just about education. It's about honouring our mothers,' she said. 'My mother gave everything to raise me right. This work is my gift to her. She taught me strength, self-respect, and never to depend on anyone.' For many, this effort is deeply personal — it is a way to carry forward their mothers' resilience. At the helm of this movement is Mahasweta Mukherjee, head of the DMSC. 'We want to give both sex workers and their children an identity rooted in pride, not prejudice,' she said. The centres not only offer education but also training in dance, art, and other forms of creative expression, helping children build confidence and find joy. The initiative now runs centres across West Bengal, including Sonagachi, Kalighat, Kidderpore, Jorabagan, and others—each supporting 30-35 children — with more planned in Chetla and Asansol. Through education and empowerment, these daughters are not just shedding old labels. They are forging new identities. Backed by compassion and conviction, they are not waiting for society's validation. They are creating their own.
