Bengal SIR: EC To Hold Special Camps For Sex Workers In Kolkata's Red-Light Areas Amid Voter List Revision | Details

Bengal SIR: The Election Commission is expected to organise special camps at Sonagachi, Asia's largest red-light district, on December 2 & 3 to support sex workers who are encountering difficulties during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, an official confirmed on Saturday. This decision follows growing concerns from the city's red-light districts about the challenges faced when filling out SIR enumeration forms.

The first phase of the SIR will run until December 4, with the draft voter list due for publication on 9th December.

"Despite the tight timeline, the Commission has opted to hold the Sonagachi camps before the preliminary phase concludes," the official explained.

On 21st November, three organisations working with sex workers 'Society of Human Development and Social Action,' 'Usha Multipurpose Co-operative Society Limited,' and 'Amra Padatik' sent an email to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) raising concerns about widespread problems with the enumeration process.

"Their concerns prompted CEO Manoj Agarwal to offer special assistance in red-light districts, including Sonagachi. He also indicated that he may personally attend one of the camps," the official told PTI.

Mahasweta Mukherjee, an advocacy officer with Amra Padatik, noted that sex workers across various neighbourhoods in the city were struggling to complete the forms.

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"The CEO instructed district election officers and electoral registration officers to deploy officials to assist sex workers in the red-light areas," he said. Mukherjee visited the CEO's office on Saturday to submit a formal letter detailing issues in Sonagachhi, Sethbagan, Rambagan, Jorabagan, Khidderpore, Kalighat, and Bowbazar.

"The organisations requested a camp on December 2, citing specific assembly constituencies and part numbers," he said.

In its reply, the CEO's office said officials would be sent to the listed areas on December 2 and 3 to resolve enumeration-related problems on the spot.

Satabdi Saha, secretary of 'Amra Padatik', said many sex workers had fled the districts out of fear of filling the forms, adding that the Commission's assurance may help bring them confidence.

( With PTI Inputs )