KOLKATA: For 15 years, Laila Das (name changed) was used to meeting five clients a day. Some wanted sex, others wanted her company. Laila is among the 7,000 sex workers in Sonagachhi. When the lockdown was announced in March, all her clients disappeared. However, things have been looking up in recent times. In the new normal world, Laila has gone hi-tech and is offering phone sex for a price.
Academicians from Yale School of Medicine and Harvard Medical School have completed a study titled ‘Modelling the Effect of Continued Closure of Red-Light Areas on Covid-19 Transmission in India’. According to the study, if red-light areas are kept closed following the lifting of lockdown, there can be a delay in the peak of Covid-19 cases by up to 36 days in Kolkata. Founder of Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee (DMSC) Smarajit Jana isn’t keen on giving importance to such studies. But he has noticed that this prolonged lockdown period at Sonagachhi has resulted in spike in virtual sex. “Earlier, the number of those involved in virtual sex were few and far between. Now, a big number has gone for phone and video. Some want to engage in question/answer sessions. Others ask for videos,” Jana said.
According to Bishakha Laskar, president of DMSC, “Everyone is scared about physical proximity. In the lane where I live, there are some 130-odd girls. Almost 95% of them are now into phone sex,” Bishakha said.
Money, Laila said, is usually transferred to the bank. The going rate for her is Rs 500 for a video call that lasts for about 30 minutes. “There is a recession everywhere. But, some clients are generous,” she said.
Not every client agrees to a bank transfer. “Some, who live close by, step out of their house on the pretext of buying milk and groceries and drop by to pay. Some cheat girls too,” Bishakha said.
Mahasweta Mukherjee, advocacy officer of DMSC, said the sex workers had earlier faced this crisis during demonetization. “We have some 7,000 girls who reside in Sonagachhi along with 3,000 others who are floating. Due to lockdown, these 3,000 girls aren’t there,” Mukherjee said.
Among the rest, most have been used to earning Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 a month. Just providing them meals as relief is not enough. “They have other expenses. Many send money back home. Some have taken to selling vegetables and fruits. But that’s not enough,” she added.
Their working hours have also changed. “Phone calls can come in at any time. So, they need to be available round-the-clock,” Bishakha said.
Academicians from Yale School of Medicine and Harvard Medical School have completed a study titled ‘Modelling the Effect of Continued Closure of Red-Light Areas on Covid-19 Transmission in India’. According to the study, if red-light areas are kept closed following the lifting of lockdown, there can be a delay in the peak of Covid-19 cases by up to 36 days in Kolkata. Founder of Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee (DMSC) Smarajit Jana isn’t keen on giving importance to such studies. But he has noticed that this prolonged lockdown period at Sonagachhi has resulted in spike in virtual sex. “Earlier, the number of those involved in virtual sex were few and far between. Now, a big number has gone for phone and video. Some want to engage in question/answer sessions. Others ask for videos,” Jana said.
According to Bishakha Laskar, president of DMSC, “Everyone is scared about physical proximity. In the lane where I live, there are some 130-odd girls. Almost 95% of them are now into phone sex,” Bishakha said.
Money, Laila said, is usually transferred to the bank. The going rate for her is Rs 500 for a video call that lasts for about 30 minutes. “There is a recession everywhere. But, some clients are generous,” she said.
Not every client agrees to a bank transfer. “Some, who live close by, step out of their house on the pretext of buying milk and groceries and drop by to pay. Some cheat girls too,” Bishakha said.
Mahasweta Mukherjee, advocacy officer of DMSC, said the sex workers had earlier faced this crisis during demonetization. “We have some 7,000 girls who reside in Sonagachhi along with 3,000 others who are floating. Due to lockdown, these 3,000 girls aren’t there,” Mukherjee said.
Among the rest, most have been used to earning Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 a month. Just providing them meals as relief is not enough. “They have other expenses. Many send money back home. Some have taken to selling vegetables and fruits. But that’s not enough,” she added.
Their working hours have also changed. “Phone calls can come in at any time. So, they need to be available round-the-clock,” Bishakha said.
