CSWs of Kamathipura do not want just food packets, but want Govt to engage them into some program

It is not just about the distribution of food packets to the women in Kamathipura, the fuel too is needed to cook amid lockdown so that they did not sleep empty stomach but have been suffering violence by their pimps and are forced to give money from flesh trade

Mumbai: The disruption due to lockdown imposed after the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic has halted city’s nightlife even in the infamous brothels and sleaze joints. In the heart of Mumbai’s red- light district of Kamathipura, the dark lives of Commercial Sex Workers (CSWs) have come to a grinding halt.

The coronavirus pandemic has severely impacted the sex trade in the red light district of Kamathipura. The red light areas like Kamathipura and Falkland Road have observed very strict lockdown. The lockdown created lot of distress in the sector. Their nights have become sleepless as they have no customers due to which they have become penniless.

Congress MLA Amin Patel was the first to reach out to the women immediately after lockdown was announced. “We immediately started distribution of food packets consisting of rice, dal, wheat, oil, sugar and tea to 200 families in Kamathipura. Initially we provided readymade food, later we started giving the food packets so as they can cook and eat. “Kamathipura comes under Patel’s Mumbadevi constituency. Patel highlighted that many of the CSWs have left for their native places.

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With no customers for three months uncertainty and unpredictability has turned the lives of about 4,500 CSWs in a precarious situation. Reaching out to the city’s most neglected and infamous people, Prerana an NGO highlights that the help in the form food packets, sanitizers and masks from many NGOs poured. It was ensured by all that this CSWs invisible group does not starve amid lockdown.

“We gave them food packets but they did not have fuel to cook the food, as this area had observed strict lockdown,” said Priti Patkar founder and Director of Prerana. “When the women were struggling to exist with their children amid lockdown they have also suffered violence even in the brothels too. They had to face violence as their pimps and brothel operators were not getting any money out of them. The women were not bringing in money and thus faced domestic violence, “added Patkar.

The vicious cycle has not ended for these women as amid coronavirus pandemic, they will have to face problems. The sex trade is body contract trade and due to contagious diseases, the women will have to suffer the most post COVID-19 also. Based on the data of Maharashtra State AIDS Control Society out of 4500 commercial sex workers many are HIV positive thus along with food they also need nutritional diet lockdown  has also affected them.

“Nobody has thought of providing alternatives to these women. They do not have valid documents thus they are not entitled for Jan-Dhan scheme Rs. 500 also. They are more vulnerable to infection of coronavirus as they are into sex trade, “added Patkar.

Patkar highlighted that if these women protest against violence they will be thrown out from the brothels with their children. She also pointed out that the government should link up these women in some program that provides some accommodation may be in the outskirts of Mumbai with no rent for six months otherwise the misery of Coronavirus will spread to them also.