Condoms Calling, Kolkata Talking - Environment - Kolkata Mirror,Kolkata Mirror

By Charles Nandi

Posted On Wednesday, November 04, 2009 at 06:39:48 PM

Kolkata: Condoms and babus are the two main issues dominating the elections of sex-workers this time. With nearly 70,000 sex-workers ready to cast votes to elect their leaders at the end of this month, candidates engaged in the sex trade have already kicked off election campaigns in different parts of the city and districts.

Condoms and babus are the two issues dominating the elections of sex-workers

“The elections are meant for electing the 11-member executive body of Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee. The campaigning has reached a feverish pitch in Kolkata and the districts. The polls are held every two years. Only sex-workers can contest,” said Mahasweta Mukherjee, the chief public relations officer of the committee establishing the rights and social security of the sex-workers.

She said that election observers, including professors and eminent personalities, would be appointed to ensure free and fair polls.

Even though Durbar’s main objective is to protect the sex-workers from AIDS, a section of women engaged in the flesh trade have alleged that the babus were not forced to use contraceptives despite the presence of committee members in the red-light areas. “As a result of this we are getting affected,” said a sex-worker unwilling to be named.

Some sex-workers have alleged that the babus are not forced to use contraceptives

When a client becomes emotionally involved with a particular sex-worker and starts living with her as husband, he is called a babu. Though the babus dislike their partners entertaining other clients, they become physically close to other women too. This, according to the sex workers, may result in the spread of AIDS if these babus are not forced to use contraceptives immediately.

“We force all clients to use condoms. But we cannot force the babus to do the same as they are powerful. We want to abolish the babu concept. Condoms are a must for all. We are convincing the babus not to go for unprotected sex. It is a challenge,” said a senior Durbar official.

There is another too this time. “Our challenge is to involve nearly 2,000 high-profile sex-workers of Sonagachhi. These women come to Sonagachhi from various parts of the country and also from Nepal. They entertain high-profile clients. They live in posh flats like Prem Kamal, Neel Kamal, Night Lover, Ganga Yamuna and other such places in Sonagachhi. But don’t participate in the elections,” added the official.

There will be no forcible prostitution in red-light areas

The sex-workers have also designed a strategy to attract nearly 3,000 ‘flying’ prostitutes of Rajabazar, Ultadanga, Dum Dum and Sonagachhi in the polls.

The ‘winds of change’ in the state politics has also cast its shadow on the upcoming polls of prostitutes with majority sex workers siding with TMC by opposing candidates being backed by the local CPM.

Following issues also dominate the polls this time:

No forcible prostitution in red-light areas.

No minors to be trafficked to get engaged in the flesh trade.

Sex-workers not to be harassed and victimised by pimps, local hooligans, police and Malkins (women who take care of sex-workers and become their local guardians).

Protection of sex-workers from the violence of customers and exploitation by local goons.

Health and hygiene for them and their children.

To educate them about the dangers of HIV and unprotected sex.

To convince them not to entertain clients without condoms.

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