Kolkata sex workers
Election Commission to Set Up Special Assistance Camp for Kolkata Sex Workers Facing Voter Registration Challenges
Nov 27, 2025 07:43 pm CST
Kolkata's Sonagachi sex workers will receive a special assistance camp from the Election Commission to address unique documentation challenges in the ongoing electoral roll revision process. With many unable to produce mandatory 2002 records due to their circumstances, the camp aims to prevent exclusion of approximately 10,000 eligible voters from India's largest red light district.
Kolkata Sex Workers Fight for Voting Rights: Challenges and Solutions in Electoral Inclusion
Nov 16, 2025 05:25 pm CST
Sex workers in Kolkata's Sonagachi district face potential exclusion from voter rolls due to documentation challenges. The 12,000-member community, represented by the Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee, has petitioned Bengal's electoral authorities for special verification camps to ensure their democratic participation. Many lack traditional documentation having lost family connections, despite possessing other government IDs since 2002. This struggle highlights broader electoral inclusion challenges as Bengal's Special Intensive Revision process moves forward.