Plight of sex workers during the pandemic
Covid-19
Ever since the pandemic broke out, India’s 9 lakh female sex workers are out of work, fighting debt and facing a high risk from the virus.
Lack of access to vaccines, domestic violence and inability to provide for their families have only added to their woes. Domestic violence from partners and abuse by occasionally available customers have also emerged as major issues for sex workers during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The unrecognized community
In India, sex workers fall under the category of informal work as the law is murky and currently stands that the industry is irregulated.
Since most red-light areas are populated with undocumented migrants, receiving government aid, getting formal loans or receiving vaccines is next to impossible.
No income and no aid
According to the National Aids Control Organisation, by the end of 2020, over 90% of commercial sex workers across these three states of Delhi, Maharashtra and West Bengal were pushed into permanent debt with no source of income.
Last year the Centre and the state governments announced Covid relief fund to vulnerable populations such as migrant labourers, unorganized labourers, women and farmers severely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. But, no Covid relief package was sanctioned to the community of sex workers.
Lack of loans from formal institutions
A Pune-based non-profit carried out a survey in Budhwar Peth, India’s third-largest red-light area, which houses nearly 3,000 commercial sex workers.
The study had found that more than 85% of sex workers had taken loans during the pandemic. The study also found that 98% of them took loans from brothel owners, managers and moneylenders, making them financially vulnerable.
Vaccination and misinformation
Lack of identity documents, including documents with date of birth, residence proof, and self-identified gender identity is a huge barrier for the workers in accessing COVID-19 vaccination drives.
Ayeesha Rai of the National Network of Sex Workers (NNSW), a collective of five million sex workers across the country, says that some of the women believe that Covid-19 will not affect them or the vaccine will cause tumours and blood clots.
Why are vaccines extremely crucial?
Many sex workers live with co-morbidities, which puts them at a greater risk. Many are already suffering from HIV, complications from sex reassignment surgery and hormone intake, and drug addiction, making them vulnerable to Covid-19.
Delhi alone has at least 55,633 female sex workers and 9,496 transgender persons, who are covered as “High-Risk Groups” under the National AIDS Control Programme of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Is aid coming?
Last year, Maharashtra became the only state in the country to provide help to sex workers. It announced financial assistance of INR 5,000 per month, only to female sex workers with identity cards issued by the National AIDS Control Organization.
In June 2021, the All India Network of Sex Workers (AINSW), a community of 5 million sex workers, wrote to the Delhi government to demand access to vaccines for sex workers. In response, a Delhi government spokesperson said that a special vaccination drive for such communities is under active consideration.
The condition in India
Most sex workers in India enter the industry before the age of 18, are often forced into the profession and are victims of human trafficking. While prostitution itself is not illegal in India, pimping and soliciting are. The ambiguous law leads to the exploitation of the workers and hinders aid and protection.
In countries like New Zealand, sex workers are entitled to an emergency wage subsidy (for all workers whose earnings have fallen by at least 30% due to the pandemic). India has a long way to go before it even recognizes these workers, let alone provide proper aid.
Only ray of hope
Even in these dire circumstances, there are NGOs that are helping these workers by setting up isolation centers, starting programs to educate the children, and providing food and cash assistance.
We have created a list of some of these NGOs where you can donate as well.
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