Kolkata: Sex workers of Sonagachi battle pandemic with hope of rebuilding their lives – India Today

The sex workers of Asia’s largest red-light area, Sonagachi in Kolkata, are relieved now that the West Bengal government has gradually eased lockdown restrictions. The pandemic left them with no income during the lockdown months of 2020 and 2021. Even now, their problems are far from over with only a few people making their way to Sonagachi these days. As a result, these sex workers’ earnings are a lot less than they used to be.

“This is Sonagachi where four to five girls stay in one room. Things are better now, but business has still not picked up much. Sex workers have been in a bad situation ever since everything was closed. If we don’t have money, how will we eat?” said one sex worker. She is also a volunteer of the Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee, a welfare organisation for sex workers across West Bengal.

Many sex workers of Sonagachi were unable to go back to their families living across the country during the lockdown. They had to stay back and were helped with ration and cooked food by the Durbar. The provision of cooked food was especially helpful as many who got ration did not have the money to buy gas or oil to cook it. Relief material and funds also poured in from other sources in the state and across the country.

“It was not just about ration. Where would they get the money for gas and oil? Their situation was bad. Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee helped as much as they could. Many girls even fell ill,” the sex worker added.

One source of help during the lockdown was the Usha Multipurpose Cooperative Society. In this bank dedicated for sex workers under Durbar, many of them had deposited their savings over the years. The bank remained open during the lockdown and those women with savings were able to help their families during tough times.

“The bank for sex workers was open during lockdown. The money saved by sex workers helped to minimize the problem,” said another sex worker.

She added, “We are unable to save money now as fewer customers are coming in now and we have to feed our families. We will save money again when it is possible.”

Even amid all the uncertainty, there is hope that normal life will slowly resume. With 3,000 sex workers vaccinated so far in Sonagachi, an attempt has been made to spread awareness on how to keep safe during the pandemic. Sanitization is being emphasised and given its due importance.

Customers have begun trickling into Sonagachi and sex workers are slowly resuming business, now that the fear of contracting Covid-19 is less.

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