Sonagachi Sex Workers' Fears Allayed as CEO Promises No Eligible Voter Will Be Excluded
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In a bid to allay the fears of sex workers in Sonagachi, Asia's largest red-light district, the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer, Manoj Agarwal, has assured that no eligible voter will be excluded from the electoral rolls. The sex workers, who have been living in the narrow lanes and congested 'kothis' of north Kolkata's ward number 18, were worried that their names might be struck off the voters' list due to lack of proof of ancestry or long-lost contact with their natal families. According to Agarwal, around 3,500 sex workers are yet to be covered under the enumeration drive and will be included shortly. He also announced that those who had not voted in the past but have other proofs of citizenship will be allowed to submit Form 6 with annexures from December 16. The final electoral roll will be published on February 14. To ensure that no eligible voter is left out, the EC officials, along with local residents and registered NGOs, are assisting the sex workers in filling up forms and overcoming their apprehensions. Agarwal met several sex workers and assured them of all support from the EC. The state government has also pledged to ensure that no eligible voter from the marginalized section is deprived of democratic rights. Women and Child Welfare Minister Sashi Panja said that the women are citizens of this country and their votes cannot be taken away due to technicalities. Volunteers from local NGOs are guiding the sex workers through the complicated forms, often filling them up on their behalf as many struggle to read or write. The process has reopened wounds for some, who were trafficked, abandoned, or fled their homes decades ago. The sex workers are worried about the economic cost of compliance, with every hour spent on paperwork meaning lost earnings. However, most have stayed back after being assured of legal safeguards. The day's events have forced the city to acknowledge the citizens it usually pretends not to see.
