Introduction :
Since the term 'prostitute' has been commonly used in a derogatory sense, in current literature the term 'Commercial Sex Worker' often substitutes it. as I think if 'Sex' is qualified as 'Work' it is inherently commercial. so it is better to use 'female sex worker' or FSW and 'Male Sex Worker' or MSW for a female and male prostitute respectively.
from behavioral point of view 'Sex Work' can be defined as the act or practice of a person, female or male who for some kind of reward - monetary or otherwise - engages in sextual relation with a number of persons, who may be the same or opposite sex.
Sex work is an old age institution in India. The well known socio-political treatise, Artha Sastr, written by Kautilya sometimes between 300 BC. and 150 AD, states that providing sextual entertainment to the public using trained Ganikas (FSW) was an activity strictly controlled by the state and was also, for the most part, carried on by state owned establishments. The Ganikas had to pay taxes, usually one sixth of their income. 'Kamasutra' of Vatsyayana (between 100 and 400 AD) referred courtesans and eunuchs who depended on livelihood on providing various type of sextual; entertainment to their male customers.
As per record maintained in the Calcutta Corporation, we got some interesting information of 19th Century. For example in 1806 there were 2550 (Hindu-1206, Muslim-715, European-629) FSWs in 593 brothel houses in central Calcutta. Some of them are apparently a affluent. as many as, Six percent 6% of those who paid property Tax in Calcutta were FSWs. apparently, social and leagal restrictions regarding sex work in the early 19th Century Calcutta were much less than in contemporary India. The first generation FSWs in Calcutta mostly belong to upper cast widows and deserted wives. Their clients called 'Babus' were mostly middle and upper class men (Land lord or Jamindar, Beniya, Dewan etc.)
Situation was changing from the middle of 19th Century, the composition of FSWs and clients in Calcutta started to become diverse and their number grew rapidly. The vast majority of them were from depressed community, many of them came to Calcutta for frequent famines and extreme poverty. Situation is more critical today. A large proportion originated from Rarh region of West Bengal. Sonagachi is most probably the oldest and largest sex work colony in Calcutta. At present in Sonagachi approx 9000 sex worker (resident-6000 and mobile-3000) and approx 34000 clients (Babu-6000, General Customer-28000) are used to perform sex service. To know the situation of sex worker and other stake holder as a part of our urban study of Community Development, University of Calcutta we came and talked with them 3rd and 4th September 2010.
Methodology :
We applied basic conversation method, principles of exchange of knowledge. This method is very much useful in Sonagachi for assessing problems and needs. Various stake holders like NGO, Self Regulatory Board, Mamata Care, Usha Multipurpose Co-Operative Society, Komal Gandhar, Sathi Sangathan introduce and evaluate their position in the community. A face to face interaction, groupwise seating and visiting some core area of their social activities had done by us. We had talked with Bharati Dey of Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee (DMSC).Dr. Smarajit Jana, Chief Advisor of DMSC gave his valuable guideline In our class room whether in Ballygunj Science College or in Durbar Office in Sonagachi Red Light Area.
Sonagachi Project- Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee (DMSC) The earliest cases of infection with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, were first detected in India in 1986 among few Sex Workers in Chennai. in 1992 the Govt of India initiated the Sonagachi Project with funding and technical assistance from the World Health Organisation.
Within few years the Sonagachi Project achieved a remarkable success in increasing the use of condoms among sex workers, reducing the prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Dieses (STD) and in controlling the spread of HIV/AIDS among them. while the 10 years back report indicates that the prevalence of HIV/AIDS among the sex workers of Kamathipura red light area of Mumbai is over 60% and over 30% over among sex workers in few other Indian cilties, it is only around 10% among sex workers in Sonagachi [UNAIDS-2000]. NACO, National Aids Control Organisation considers the Sonagachi Project as the most successful HIV/AIDS intervention project among sex workers in India [NACO-2001].
One of the key reason for the unique epidemiological success in Sonagachi. As Bharati Dey, Secretary of DMSC told us in her office, is that from its inception, some sex workers are being recruited and trained as peer educators for educating their counterparts about STD as well as motivating them to use condoms for safer sex. In cause of their work peer educator soon realized that most clients were reluctant to use condoms because they believed that it reduce the pleasure of sex. When any sex worker refuse their client, for his refusal to use condom, then client usually attempted to go to another sex worker where condom less sex may possible. The peer educator discussed the problem with their colleagues and made a decision that the sex workers should mobilize themselves in the form of an association. The association will collectively demand not only their right to require using of condoms but also for their basic human and constitutional rights. The result occurs an initiative to form the Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee in 1995.
The DMSE became a powerful tool not only for the prevention of STD/HIV/AIDS among sex workers, but also help them gain control over there lives, which are usually dominated by various type of exploiters involved in the sex trade. Presently DMSC has 66 branches and a membership of 66000 sex workers across West Bengal, becoming an excellent forum of female, male, transgender sex workers and their children, from both brothel area and mobile sex workers.
Mamata Care :
We talked with sex workers Mangala Pradhan and Tapasi Giri. Tapasi a HIV Positive make an attempt to convince sex workers exemplifying her tragedy. They asked sex workers to use condom even with their Babus. Babu and sex workers opposed it and refused to budge. So a continued process to convince them is always going on.
On behalf of Mamata Care, specimens are collected fro testing in Hygiene institute, Calcutta. Speculum checkup is maintained in every month. Initially NACO subs first kit, second and third kits supplied by Swastha Bhawan. At present NACO serves all required kits. If anybody forced to leave from her house due to disease of STD they contact with her and take initiative to hospitalize her. If any MSW with HIV+ are disagree to take medicine it is our duty to convince her, as told by Mangala. She told that they use to tell them, 'If you not take 1st line medicine then 2nd line is far expensive (10,000/-).' Mangala herself are well now.
Self Regulatory Board :The DMSC took the initiative to setup in 1999 three local self regulatory board in Kolkata. The local member in a few red light areas of the city set up a system by which they could monitor the arrival of new women and counsel them before they started entertaining clients. Best possible attempts were made to ascertain whether new arrivals were bellow 18 and whether they come voluntarily or against their will. By the end of 2004 over 250 of them were identified as bellow 18 years of age.
We had talked Bisakha and Purnima. They informed us 6 persons from sex worker community and 4 from non sex worker are in their board. Murshidabad and two 24 Pgs. are the highest in term of women trafficking. At present 33 branches of SRB work on various areas. In Sonagachi area when bellow 18 aged girls are found at first SRB tried to convince them to bring back to their home. The majority of them however, refused to return to their parental homes for fear of being tortured by parents/relatives or because of other reasons. It was found that they were mostly victims of seriously adverse circumstances and ended up in red light areas through the wide spread network of traffickers and brothel keepers.
Girls wiped their tears and prayed, 'Didi don't send us back, how can I survive?' Purnima told their experience to make journey with the girl to send her back. As they carry foods for any journey, they have even to distribute it for the poor family members of that girl. Sometime they forced to leave that village as villagers claim money; sometime they narrowly save from beating. At present SRB made arrangements with the West Bengal State Social Welfare Department so that they could be sent to the boarding schools sponsored by the department.
No amount of migration statistics can bring out the trauma and tragedy facing millions of women sex workers on the migration trail- women who are driven by abject poverty to migrate not only to the nearest city but to far away countries in search of employment and become victims of unscrupulous recruiting agents, corrupt police and sex hungry systems. Government, Police, Media delight in flaunting statistics how many girls are caught and taking custody, victims of women trafficking. But how many of them care to visualize the other face of trafficking?
Komal Gandhar :In order to carve out a positive identity for its members, the DMSC formed in 1996 a forum called 'Komal Gandhar' (a soft note in Indian Classical music) that would serve as a vehicle for expressing themselves through music, dance and other performing arts. From its inception, Komal Gandhar has been involved in developing skills of sex workers and their children in these arts.
As we talked with Sambhu a transgender and child of a sex worker an inborn talent in dancing, elaborate their activities. They were then just concluded their rehearsal for upcoming dance program. Few reputed Kolkata professionals in drama had devoted their time voluntarily for helping sex workers to stage several dramas.
Komal Gandhar music and dance drama troops used to perform regularly in various conferences and seminars organized by DMSC and on special days like World AIDS Day, Women's Day, Labour Day etc. sometimes they perform to raise money for various kinds of charity. Their performance had received favorable reviews in the media, not just as sex worker's performance but as quality performance. Komal Gandhar attained an international reputation for its performance of a dance drama called 'peace at the 12th World Aids Conference held in Geneva in 1998.
Some famous actress, musicians and dancers during the first half of the 20th century, like Angurbala, Binodini had their origin in the red light areas of Kolkata. This is a great source of inspiration for the performers of Komal Gandhar. The performances and regular rehearsals necessary for the purpose help sex workers a great deal in neutralizing the terrible experiences they go through in their daily life. Since 2001, as they told us, the activities of Komal Gandhar have been spreaded to various parts of West Bengal.
Co-operative Society :Formation of the Usha Multipurpose Co-Operative Society (UMCS) by the DMSC in 1995, exclusively for sex workers was one of its most significant steps taken towards their self determination and empowerment. The DMSC has had to fight a long battle with Government authorities that initially mentioned that sex workers could not have a co-operative on moral grounds. more-over there was a strong position against it from the money lenders and brothel keepers of the project area, who derived huge profits by lending money to sex workers with interest rates often as high as 4% per day. The UMCS relived many sex workers from such terrible exploitation which previously made some of them victims of perpetual indebtedness and sexual slavery throughout their life.
With a current membership of 6000 and total annual turnover of nearly Rs.8 crore, the UMSC is presently the largest Co-operative society of sex workers in the country. It encourages sex workers to develop the habit of saving regularly by keeping the minimum limit for deposit as low as Rs. 5/- The members have easy access to loans at interest lower than those charged by Banks.
In order to promote safe sex and also to add to its resources, the UMCS runs a social marketing of condoms. It selects group of sex workers in West Bengal's red light area and give them training on effective use of condoms and also on rudimentary strategies of marketing. The group is called 'Basanti Sena'.
Babu :We had talked with 2 Babus, Sukumar Dey and Ramkumar Misra. We are informed from them regarding their organization, 'Sathi Sangathan.' They are narrowly criticised by the society as society called them Bherua (Ram) they called they are essential part in sex work. We served security and identity to MSWs and also assist them. We directly talked with the customer and asked about STD. We also served cards, condoms from customer care unit. Yes, we did not use condom with our partner. Here in Sonagachi are some tradition to test new comer, babus use to get that privilege. Sathi Sangathan prescribed to use condom in every sex relation and also with their own Bibi. Some Babus related with many Bibis and simultaneously Bibis have different Babus. This resulted chaos, murder, rape etc.
At present they have 2500 members. With 10 branches in Kolkata and 6 on district level their organization involved with various social activities in sex work colony.
We got privilege to see the DTP and Designing unit of publication. The DMSC have their credit a good quantity of published materials in the form of newsletter, occasional reports and papers, brochures, booklets, training modules, leaflets, books and monthly magazine. Monthly magazine, Durbar Bhabna is one of the best magazine and we know, its diversity and quality f articles already gained attraction from Bengali intelligentsia.We had talked with Mr. Tarun Basu, he gave us some information. All those publications - some of them priced and some not - are distributed and exhibited at conferences, seminars and workshops organized by the DMSC or those in which their members participate, as well as at the annual Calcutta Book Fare. Contents of many publications, authored by the project staff and DMSC members, relate to activities and achievements of the project. Many MSWs have written their own life story in authentic simple language.
One of the most effective publications in both English and Bengali is the newsletter titled 'Namaskar'. Some important books drew readership for exceptionality it contains are, DURBAR A Brief Profile, Jibon Jounota O Jounokormi by Dr. Smarajit Jana, Amlasoler Janajati Sabar by Dipak Bara Panda etc.
Conclusion :Drunken by the Starry Void.
An Examination of the present state of knowledge, discussion and response we got from various stake holders regarding sex trafficking, sex workers co-operative, cultural unit, mission against HIV+, reveal new side of thinking. These also reveal to polarized stands, that of Neo-Regulationist and other groups for whom trafficking is forced prostitution, while sex work is a legitimate and willing form of labour that should be decriminalized or legalized. Without taking sides this conclusion of our study describes the various arguments that will help contribute to a better understanding of the issue and inform the possibility of future action.
HIV/AIDS prevalence among sex workers in the Sonagachi significantly lower than that among sex workers in any other Indian city. The unique success of STD / HIV Intervention Program (SHIP) in Sonagachi can be attributed mostly to the sex workers active participation in its structure, decision making and implementation through their association, DMSC. The valiant struggle for empowerment against the powerful vested in the sex trade by the poor, socially stigmatized and extremely vulnerable Sonagachi sex workers through a collective of their own can herald the beginning of a silent revolution among sex workers in India as well as in global arena.
Reference :1. Dangerous Outcasts : The prostitute in 19th Century Bengal, Sumanta Banerjee, Seagull Books, Calcutta, 1998.
2. Anthropolgical perspectives on Prostitution & AIDS in India, Moni Nag, EPW 2001.
3. জীবন, যৌনতা ও যৌনকর্মী, ডঃ স্মরজিত জানা, দুর্বার প্রকাশণী, কলকাতা।
4. দুর্বার, পশ্চিমবঙ্গের যৌন কর্মীদের প্রকল্প, সংগঠণ ও আন্দোলন।
5. Migrant Women Workers, Ashish Bose, EPW 2003.
6. UNAIDS Report, 2000.
7. NACO Report, 2001.
8. Articles published in the 2nd International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific, Dr. Smarajit Jana, AIDS Society of Asia and the Pacific, 1992.
