Bengaluru: Transgender community faces a tough time during lockdown
BENGALURU: With lockdown restrictions in place and social distancing a must, members of the transgender community are finding their source livelihood severly hit.
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This NGO in Bengaluru is providing groceries to sex workers across Karnataka during the lockdown
Sangama is raising funds to help sex workers and transgenders. You can also do your bit and contribute your share to help thousands of families across Karnataka
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Sex Workers in Pune's Red-light District Get Nod to Resume Work in Covid-19 Times But New Rules Apply
In view of crowds in the area, it has been made mandatory for the residents to wear masks. In order to strictly follow the rules, the municipal corporation's team raids the area and imposes fines on those who roam around without masks.
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Bengaluru: Sex workers use tech to beat pandemic blues
BENGALURU: Mallika (31), who also has the street name Rani, has had a regular spot near the Majestic bus terminal for past 6 years. She would ply her trade with travellers and locals and used her earnings to feed her two children...
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Pune: Business Association Budhwar Peth demands safety of sex workers
Business association delegates of Budhwar Peth met Resident Deputy Collector and raised their concerns to ensure the region does not become COVID-19 hotspot after recent ‘Unlock’. As Pune is marching toward Unlock process, business owners of Budhwar Peth...
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Maharashtra: Sex workers’ organisations welcome GR directing govt officials to help them
The resolution stated these women should be provided free ration and all essential services. Dr Yashodh has directed district officers, block protection officers and counselors to provide help to sex workers
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Impact of COVID-19 on Sex Workers in India
COVID KATHA : We are our Own Voice
Sex work is defined as the provision of sexual services for monetary benefit or kind. A conservative estimate of female sex workers in India is 1.2 million with an estimated 6,88751 “registered” female sex workers were receiving services from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
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ISSUES OF SEX WORKERS IN THE TIMES OF COVID IN INDIA
Sex work is defined as the provision of sexual services for monetary benefit or kind. A conservative estimate of female sex workers in India is 1.2 million with an estimated 6,88751 “registered” female sex workers were receiving services from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
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Sex workers in Budhwar Peth apply to return to native place, say they want to go home
Since a lockdown was announced, police completely closed business in the red light area. During this period, the Pune Police and various welfare organisations have continued to provide ration and food to sex workers and also facilitated their healthcare needs.
A LARGE number of commercial sex workers (CSW) in Pune’s red light area at Budhwar Peth want to return home as their source of income is completely suspended due to a nationwide lockdown. However, being in a containment zone, travelling out of Pune is not permitted as of now, while the larger question is: will their families accept them?
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Not Kowtowing to Crisis: Sex Workers Distribute Ration, Medicines and Hope Amid Covid-19 Lockdown
What is really required from the government is to include these ‘invisible workers’ in policies related to Covid-19, and to reach out to them with support and aid.
Covid-19 lockdown has hit the country in different manners. Be it rich, poor, or marginalised sections of the society, all have been facing its severe impact in their own ways. One such section of the society is of sex workers, who are struggling every day to survive as the nationwide lockdown has put a temporary end to their services, leading to financial crisis and lack of basic amenities like food and medicine.
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An Unequal Battle
Caught off-guard by the lockdown, sex workers in the state find that they not only have to struggle through limited resources but also fight age-old prejudice.
Jwala Shakti Samuh, Jharkhand
In Jharkhand, many women go to the state's capital Ranchi from their villages for sex work where they either stay on rent or travel 50-60km every day for work. As they have documents from their villages, they often cannot avail of the government facilities in the city. Since most of them are residence/home-based sex workers, their identity is not disclosed.
A sex worker said, "I had gone to the ward member for three continuous days to ask for ration but got only 2kg rice. Through Srijan Foundation I received a bag of different grocery items that will last for a month otherwise I couldn't understand what to do and whom to go to."
Another said since her income is dependent on her everyday work, whatever savings she had was spent to survive the initial days of the lockdown. Once it was over she had to ask people for help. She says after receiving ration from Nnsw India she is relieved.
We have so far assisted 33 women in Ranchi and Gumla, but after going to the field, it was found that there are still more sex workers who are in need of support. If the lockdown continues, the situation is going to get pathetic & we will require your further cooperation and support.
- From Jwala Shakti Samuh & Srijan Foundation, Jharkhand
* Click on image to zoom
Swadhar Sangh, Maharashtra
Swadhar Sangh writes,
Troubled by constant raid and eviction, the COVID19 pandemic brought another havoc in the lives of the community members in Amalner & Chopda. Sex workers who could return to their villages went back but 60% of the women stayed in the area.
It is through the relief kit provided that our stomachs are full today. We have ration for April but the uncertainty of lockdown worries us. Only 133 women are in need right now but the number may increase to 250–300. We can feed ourselves now but there is no money to send to our families in the village. On behalf of Swadhar Sangh and Adhar Sanstha, we want to thank you for your generous contribution. Special thanks to Nnsw India and Sangram Sanstha
* Click on image to zoom
Vadamalar Federation, TamilNadu
Prema from Kanyakumari says, "I am not infected by Corona, but affected by mental stress and anxiety due to loss of income. This help from NNSW has been a great support for us during such difficult times." We distributed food packets comprising rice, dal, wheat, oil and channa dal in 5 districts in TN among 177 sex workers. Sex workers in TN have been deeply impacted due to the COVID19 pandemic. They have not been able to go for work, even before the lockdown. This loss of income has rendered them unable to take care of routine expenses like buying ration, paying rent, buying medicines, etc.
Jayanthi from Kanyakumari says that NNSW's timely support has made her feel good. She said that it felt consoling that she has people who will help her during such crises and that she is not alone. This relief has made many sex workers interested in joining CBOs and becoming part of the Vadamalar Federation.
Meena from Theni says, "after I distributed ration to sex workers in Theni, I have been getting calls continuously and women are asking that they want to join the federation. They expressed deep thanks for the support." Meena also said that she is happy that she was able to involve herself in relief work. The difference it made in people's lives is motivating her to work harder.
- From Vadamalar Federation - SIAAP communities, TamilNadu
* Click on image to zoom
Lockdown | Sex workers anxious over the months ahead
Loss of income, mounting debt, and lack of support for families in villages haunt them
“I am now reduced to a beggar and rely entirely on free cooked meals distributed in our area,” says Laxmi Mane (name changed), a 32-year-old sex worker in Pune’s largest red light district, Budhwar Peth. The lockdown and the fear of COVID-19 has meant that this primary bread winner of her family of five has no source of income now, and perhaps for months to come.
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