Kolkata Sex Workers to Get Special Electoral Camp Amid SIR Documentation Crisis

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The Election Commission has announced plans to establish a special assistance camp in Kolkata's Sonagachi area to address the concerns of sex workers who are struggling to meet the documentation requirements for the upcoming electoral rolls. In an effort to tackle the unique challenges faced by sex workers in the area, the commission has taken note of their concerns and will provide support to help them navigate the process. According to officials, the special camp will be set up to examine their cases on the spot during the hearing window, ensuring that genuine applications are cleared without delay. The Electoral Registration Officer will personally attend the camp to hear their cases. The move comes after multiple organisations, including the Society for Human Development and Social Action, Usha Multipurpose Cooperative Society Ltd, and Amra Padatik, raised concerns about the difficulties faced by sex workers in gathering documents from 2002, a mandatory requirement under the SIR process. The organisations pointed out that many sex workers are unable to access family histories, and some have even concealed their profession from their families due to social stigma. They urged the commission to treat their circumstances with sensitivity and not exclude them from the voters' list. The draft electoral rolls are scheduled to be published on December 9, and claims and objections will be allowed until January 8. The special camp is expected to provide relief to the sex workers in Sonagachi, who are worried about being left out due to circumstances beyond their control. Rights groups working with sex workers and their children have welcomed the move, saying it will bring clarity and relief to the community. They have also argued that the sex workers' citizenship status should not be under suspicion, given that many of them receive state welfare benefits and are recognised beneficiaries in government records.