Kolkata: Sex workers seek legalisation of their profession

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Sex workers seek legalisation of their profession

Kolkata, May 1 (ANI):

Hundreds of sex workers in Kolkata on Saturday demanded legalisation

of their profession.

Holding torches and banners, the slogan shouting sex workers demanded

that the government should recognise them as professionals.

Sex workers have often accused the government of violating human

rights.

" This is a procession of labours and we demand recognition for our

profession. So we are taking out this procession, " said Maya Sharma,

a sex worker.

Sharma also sought a regulated income, saying mere license would not

help them. Official records estimate that there are at least 40,000

sex workers in Kolkata, capital of West Bengal, alone.

Though prostitution is illegal in India, all major cities have " red

light areas " where prostitutes can be hired for a pittance. NGOs have

been demading a legislation to ensure labour status for the

prostitutes for over seven years now, but to no avail.

Most women prostitutes, estranged from social security systems and

ostracised by society, lead extremely sorry lives.

Basic assistance like ration cards, health cards and identity cards

are impossible to attain and most cannot even avail of medical

facilities.

They live in sickening conditions, with most of them falling prey to

various sexually transmitted diseases like HIV/AIDS.

Of the country's three million sex workers, 94 percent are Indians,

while the rest are mainly from neighbouring Bangladesh and Nepal.

At least 600,000 minors are also employed in the profession and their

number is said to increasing by almost 10 per cent every year.

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