The fight for survival | India Today Insight

Tuki, Hnaashi, Jaba and a hundred other sex workers in Sonagachi, Asia’s biggest sex market, have found new jobs at a time when pink slips and pay cuts are the new norm. These usually-late risers are waking up early these days—they have to be at their new workplaces by 10 am. Income wise, they do not get much compared to their earlier earnings, but at the very least, they are profitably engaged for seven to eight hours a day, managing to keep the worries of an uncertain future at bay at least for some part of the day.

These days, the women of Sonagachi have turned manufacturers—grinding away at sewing machines, cutting, stitching and dabbing with chemicals, they are producing hundreds of bottles of sanitisers and thousands of masks, gloves and sanitary napkins every day. As of now, their output is for their own industry—their supply is consumed by the 7,000-odd sex workers staying at Sonagachi. There are perhaps 50,000 more sex-workers in various other red-light districts across the state. “Once production increases, we will consider marketing outside [Sonagachi] and ensuring that [the workers] get remuneration, though it can never substitute for what they used to earn” says Mahasweta Mukherjee, advocacy officer of Durbar Mahila Samanyaya Committee, an NGO looking after the welfare of sex workers.

In non-Covid times, the workers of Sonagachi made money every hour. The footfall on weekends was estimated to be around 25,000-30,000. A 15-year old report had pegged the monthly income of Sonagachi at Rs 2.5 crore—it is likely much higher now. “A top category sex worker pays a monthly room rent of 70,000-1,00,000,” adds Mukherjee, “so you can imagine how much she [used to] earn. Even [a low category sex worker] who caters to six or seven clients a day can take home 15,000 at the end of the month, even after paying 50 per cent of their earning as room charges. So it is ridiculous to think that they will consider stitching and tailoring as an alternative career. This is just to keep them healthy and occupied till they can get back to their business.” At best, the NGO can arrange monthly remuneration of Rs 5,000—peanuts compared to their regular income.

This temporary arrangement is not without problems. There are several thousand in the state who have a hand-to-mouth existence and would jump at the chance to be employed, even for that amount. “How can Durbar employ so many with a monthly salary?” asks Kajal Bose, secretary of Durbar. “As of now, we are providing them with monthly rations and basic items of need—from tooth paste and soap to sanitary napkins—and so, they are not asking for wages for their labour; but this can’t go on.”

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But sex workers in other areas—such as Piu, Sweety and Shefali of Siuri brothel in Birbhum district in Bengal and Anita and Mishti of Mumbai’s largest brothel, Kamathipura—have not been so lucky. Piu and Shefali have found employment helping fishmongers, while and Anita and Mishti have found work as domestic help—and many others like them have had to take up temporary jobs to earn a living. “We are getting rations, cooked food, vegetables and basic items. Our children are getting fancy food—Maggi, milk and biscuits—but how long can you go on without hard cash? What about our ailments?” asks Champa. She belongs to the mid-level category of sex workers, and needs to pay Rs 25,000 as monthly room rent. Durbar, along with the local police, has petitioned landowners in Sonagachi to waive their rent for the last three months. Even if this comes to pass, what worries these workers is life in times to come. With the government allowing different business sectors to resume operations—including beauty parlours and salons and even massage parlours, some of which are being used in the sex trade—Sonagachi’s sex workers are growing impatient to resume their business.

“We are getting news about massage parlours doing big business,” says Poornima. “Many of us are thinking of sneaking [back to work] if we are held back for long.” Poornima has to take care of two children, as well as her aged parents in her hometown. She’s one of the 4 ,000 floating sex workers in Sonagachi. “I am getting enough to eat but my family is starving. How can you expect me to be calm?”

For the last three months Sonagachi has been a picture of poise, discipline and unusual calm. Except for the days that NGOs and charitable institutions deliver food items, the once-busy sex market wears a desolate look. No one stirs from their houses except at need—and then too, abiding by the social distancing norms. Such discipline has surprised the police and administration alike. Hemmed in by two Covid red zones—Durga Charan Mitra Street and Nilmoni Street on its right, left and at the back—Sonagachi has managed to ward off Covid by strictly following the lockdown restrictions. Debjit Bhattacharjee, officer-in-charge of Burtolla police station, which has jurisdiction over Sonagachi, also appreciates the restraint shown by sex workers.

But Durbar cannot guarantee that this will continue. As life gradually limps back to normal, with people seen jostling, elbowing and scrambling for public transport to reach their place of work, no argument or logic will succeed in dissuading sex workers from resuming their profession.“What is wrong if we take necessary precautions and allow customers after thermal checking?” asks Tuki.

Durbar is also preparing to ensure a safe work environment for sex workers. People entering Sonagachi from five entry points will have their temperatures taken via thermal guns and a customer care centre is being set up to educate clients on Covid and safe sex. Apart from condoms, masks, gloves and sanitisers will be distributed. Sex workers will also have to abide by the rules of business the NGO will set for them. Leaflets—‘no mask, no sex’—are being put up on the walls, and a public awareness campaign will be broadcast through loudspeakers. “We will be asking the workers to take a bath and change the sheets after entertaining a customer. We apprehend that the number of customers will go down drastically, but at least they will be back to business.” says Bose.

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