‘I measure the progress of the community by the degree of progress which women have achieved.’
-Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
In India, many laws and propaganda were issued against many professions including sex workers. Still, why is it so hidden and practised in societies? The answer is lack of financial independence and unemployment for economically backward communities. Root of this problem is so branched that there will no answers but rather further questions. Women are the majority who are affected and involved in these professions.
Despite the technical prosperity and nationwide encouragement for education through government schemes, we find higher dropouts in female students, especially who are in economically backward regions and classes. These young girls and women lack access to safety, hygiene and health care awareness. They are often targeted for human trafficking by middlemen as depicted in the movies and TV which is though fictional or inspired by true events.
Pandemic situation has pushed the sex workers to lose their work and denied their rights to food and health. Many families of them too suffer from lacking facilities to lead a normal life due to societal norms and flaws that are undetermined or acknowledged. Patriarchal societies changed the notion of importance that should be given to every eligible person whether it is female or transgender or backward class male. The list goes on. This Pandemic has taken a huge toll on everybody irrespective of social and economic status.
Purnkuti, an NGO has been working as part of their goals to bring empowerment to these marginalised and underprivileged sections of people in acquiring their basic human rights like right to food. ‘Happiness kit’ is an initiative to provide necessary provisions to the needy and unemployed with the help of generous and thoughtful donations.