CSWs form body, join hands to keep minors away from Ganga Jamuna in Nagpur

NAGPUR: In a first, the commercial sex workers and their children from the 250-year-old red-light area of Ganga Jamuna have created a platform to ensure minors are shielded from being forced into prostitution.
The unprecedented move has now led to the formation of a vigilance body comprising the local residents and their children, Veshya Anyay Mukhti Parishad (VAMP) which is in every sense a proposed non-governmental organization (NGO) “by, for and of the commercial sex workers” in their own words.
This group, which earlier opposed police actions, now wants CP Amitesh Kumar to rescue and remove minors from the red-light area and stop illegal soliciting too.
In August 2021, Kumar had got the area declared as 'public place', sealed around dozen brothels and prohibited prostitution completely in any form. Despite a tumultuous opposition, Kumar had kept the area under tight vigilance for almost one-and-half years before scaling down the bandobast few weeks back.
In the aftermath of the police action, VAMP has been formed with an aim to ensure the children of the sex workers receive education and are empowered to choose a livelihood of dignity and respect.
A key group member, who had met Kumar this week, had requested him to ensure the handful minors, who still can be spotted in Ganga Jamuna, are removed at the earliest.
Kumar said the police department is keen to support such initiatives. “We welcome the group's initiatives to get the area rid of minors and oppose soliciting buy running a brothel too is an illegal aspect as per the law which is also needs to be followed,” said the top cop.
The like-minded members of VAMP, who also aim to take up health issues of sex workers, is also keen to stop the spread of HIV by working with other NGOs like Red Cross Society who have been engaged in creating awareness about prevention of the disease in the locality.
The VAMP has come come into existence with the guidance and motivation from National Network of Sex Workers (NNSW) and Sangli-based NGO Sangram. NNSW has its presence in seven states across India.
One of the daughters of the sex worker, who is completing her graduation, had taken the initiative to form VAMP. “In 2021, the CP had shut down our area citing illegal activities like minors being forced into prostitution and adjoining localities getting affected due to practices like soliciting clients on the roads. We are opposing such illegal activities and want to help police department to stop illegality,” said the young college student whose mother had spent at least four decades in Ganga Jamuna.
Another sex worker, mother of two, said she intends to see the cops stop chasing the women like thieves. “We want to stop illegal activities like minors in prostitution and soliciting on roads. But, police should also respect the choice of the adult women to engage in sex work peacefully in the confines of our rooms,” said the woman who too had spent almost three decades in Ganga Jamuna.
An elderly sex worker said she had joined the group with a vision to see no teenagers suffered the way she had in the past. “We have decided to alert police in case any minors are spotted. Similarly, we want police to patrol the roads to scare away the ones soliciting and bringing us a bad name. The residents of the adjoining localities are hassled due to such women,” said the elderly sex worker.
One of the young members of the group said they wanted to identify children of the commercial sex workers, like her, who can be ushered into education. “Even if we don't have a facility to help the children study as of now, this area has NGOs like Sharanasthan where we can send them for education,” said the young enthusiastic daughter of a sex worker full realising “there would be challenges and opposition as fighting traffickers and anti-social elements will not be easy”.
The body was formed on December 6. The day coincided with the death anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar which is also observed as Mahaparinirvan Diwas. "On the day of the formation of our NGO, we also would remember Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. It was due to him that we can voice our expression and seek justice as equal with others," said one of the key members.