No Promises For Sex Workers?

The time for election has come to an end almost. Both ruling and opposition parties promised us a better country to live in. A better lifestyle, eradication of poverty, better education, more employment and the list goes on! But one thing they all overlooked, rather we can say they felt ashamed to address - "Prostitution". In recent years, we address their problems and many social workers address their miserable life, but our "social representatives" never ever do that. So the sex workers, have the right to vote, but they don't find the suitable candidate to vote for.

They feel neglected and at every step they feel like a wrongdoer. But they are not! They don't harm anyone. Neither they are thieves nor murderers, but are innocent human beings, who want some respect and dignity from all strata of society.

Let's jot some real problems they face:

• Lack of acceptance. If a sex worker wants to do any other job by leaving her previous one, she is not accepted at that place. Why? Due to the company's "reputation" or you may say "Log kya kahenge?"

• Lack of education. Education and sex education are both essential and a requirement in each and every person's life. The increased rate of rape and other forms of sexual abuse is due to lack of it. Many sex worker suffer from STD (Sexually Transmitted Diseases). If they are made aware about all the diseases and how to avoid them, they will have a better lifestyle. Also the children of the sex workers face a lot of humiliation in schools and ccolleges.

• Lack of security. Since they are sex workers, people try to harass them in public, humiliate them and make them victims of all kinds of violence. They are being molested and raped, but they can't complaint, because they are "prostitutes". But, who said that you have the right to do as you wish with a sex worker as per your will. If you are forcing someone, it is a crime. If she says NO, then it's a NO. So protection is an important requirement for them.

• Lack of facilities. The red light areas don't have proper housing structures. Lack of proper water supply, hygeine practices and food which all leads to diseases.

I have addressed the basic problems which needs to be prioritised first. Many NGOs, social workers and students took part in eradicating the above listed problems. They volunteered in creating awareness. Funds were raised to help them too. Many social workers took iniatives to teach the children and enrolled them in schools where they didn't have to face any humiliation and are treated justly.

But the situation would have been much better if the political parties would have addressed them and their problems.

So the main focus is to make our "political heroes" raise their voice for "Prostitutes", treating them as equal citizens and work for their betterment.

A country can be called developed if all the people are treated well without any bias. Hope in the next five years we achieve this motto!

Image courtesy: Bright Magazine