Durbar Mahila Samanvaya Committee’s programme director, Bharati Dey spoke at length to kolkatabuzz.com about the plight of the sex workers of the city and the difference her organization has made to their lives.Excerpts:

Kolkatabuzz:What were the motives behind the establishment of Durbar?

Bharti Dey:In 1992, NACO, started a project on health and hygiene of the sex workers of Kolkata’s red light areas.On the recommendation of one Dr Jana, the project involved sex workers of Sonagachhi on the ground that since the project was about sex workers, they should be involved in it.

So, on July 12, 1992, 12 sex workers started the project and went to their SWs educating them about HIV/AIDS, hygiene, the importance of the use of condoms etc.
Initially there was a hostile reaction from the sex workers who were subject to violence from customers, exploitation from the police, pimps and money lenders.They asked the volunteers why they did not come to them when they were victimized by the police, the pimps and other people.They were convinced that it was the beginning and something would be done in this regard soon.

So, it was how things started and there was no looking back.Now there are 49 STD clinics in all the red light areas all over the state like in Kolkata, Titagarh, Shantipur, Bashirhat,Sheoraphuli,Contai,Siliguri, Dinhata,Cooch Behar, Alipurduar,Durgapur, Asansol, to name a few.

Now, our volunteers are so experienced that they are sent to different cities like Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mysore , Delhi , Mumbai for counseling.One unique feature of our organization is that 85% of our 600 workers are SWs and only 15% non SWs.

KB:When was Durbar established?
BD:When the health and hygiene project met with a success, we decided to establish an organization which could address the serious problems faced by a sex worker, and Durbar Mahila Samanway Committee was established.

Secondly,we realized that finance was a vital thing in the running of an organization.So, we decided to open a cooperative society named Usha Multipurpose Co-operative Society Ltd.
Initially, the bank was started with 13 sex workers.Now it has become a big society and its turnover is Rs 8 crore.

KB:You said that the sex workers faced a lot of problems.What were they?
BD:When we started, the sex workers of Sonagachhi and other areas were a hapless lot.They had to bear the inhuman treatment from every section.The police used to harass them at will, making raids and picking our girls on one pretext or the other.Even the clients were picked up.We had to pay them Rs 4 lakh a month.From Durgapur and Asansol, the police would collect Rs 2 lakh.But now with Durbar in the field, it has stopped.

KB:What were other problems?
BD:Often the sex workers had to borrow money from moneylenders.If they borrowed Rs 100, for example, they had to pay Rs 10 per day till they repaid the debt in full.With the establishment of Co-operative Bank, this has stopped.Now the bank gives them loans to needy sex workers and the total number of members are 8000.

Then there were clients who would not oblige to use a condom.It often led to AIDS.

KB:What has Durbar done for the children of sex workers?
BD:One problem the SWs faced was to manage their children during their trade hours.To solve this problem , we opened education centers.They are Rahul Vidya Niketan in Baruipur and Indu Bala at Ultadanga.We also have our vocational training centre and our cultural team.Our cultural team had won the 1st prize in a competition in Geneva in 1996.

KB:What is SATHI?
BD:It is an organization for the ‘babus’ or the fixed partners of the SWs.

KB:Who is called a ‘babu’?
BD:When a client becomes emotionally involved with a certain SW and starts living with her, he is called a ‘babu’?

KB:Does he object to his partner entertaining other clients?

BD:Generally they do not object.A few of them may object and provide for their partners’ day to day financial needs.

KB:What are the responsibilities and functions that Durbar accomplishes for the betterment of the lives of the SWs?

BD:Our main task is to see that the sex workers are not harassed and victimized.If the police pick any of our girls, we intervene and get her released.Sometimes the police pick up a girl on the pretext that she is underage.It is where Durbar comes forward and helps the girl.
Secondly, Durbar has educated them about the dangers of HIV and AIDS and convinced them not to entertain clients without condoms.Now, every sex worker is aware of it and will not entertain a client if he insists on unprotected sex.

KB:What is the percentage of use of condoms today?Has your campaigning helped in controlling the spread of AIDS among the sex workers of Kolkata?

BD:Our campaigns and efforts have borne fruit as the percentage of use of condoms has gone up from 1.2 per cent in 1997 to 85 per cent in 2006.

The percentage of AIDS patients was 11.73 in 2001 which has gone down to 5.18 in 2004-05.

KB:How many sex wokers are there in Kolkata?
BD:Kolkata has some 65,000 SWs of which in Sonagachi alone there are 10,000.Another 3000 are flying sex workers.

KB:Where do they operate?

BD:They mostly operate from Ultadanga, Cossipore and Jan Bazar.

KB:Has the number of flying SWs risen in recent times?
BD:The number of FSWs was 2000 in 2004.It has gone up to 3000 in 2006, a 50% increase.

KB:What reasons do you see in the sudden spurt in the number of FSWs in Kolkata?
BD:See, there must be some reasons behind a girl joining the trade, social or economic.

KB:What reasons do they cite when they come to you?
BD:They hold poverty, unemployment of the spouse, child marriage, violence by the husband or in laws etc. mainly responsible for their decision to join this trade.

But when a girl comes to us, our anti trafficking board which comprises 60% SWs and 40% non SWs, checks whether the girl is a minor.If she is a minor, we convince her to go back to her home.But if she is adamant or is not in a position to go back home, then we sent her to homes meant for them and check her well being every three months.
This way we have rescued 386 girls till date.

Those who are adults and say that they have come willingly, are allowed to join us.

KB:Why is Durbar opposing the new anti trafficking bill to be implemented by the government?
BD:The ITPA, if implemented, will not only harm the prospects of the SWs but also harm the society.It will lead to an increase of HIV/AIDS cases because some of the provisions of this act are:
a) the sex workers will not be implicated for accosting a client.But the client will be jailed for going to a SW.If the act is implemented , no client will go to a SW and they will have to starve.

b) When the daughter of son of a SW reaches the age of 18 years, he can not use the money of his/her mother.This will have social and economic repercussions.

c) Nobody will rent his house to a SW.It means, they will be compelled to run their trade on the road.This will cause greater harm to the society.Morever, the SWs then will not be able to enforce use of condoms on a client.This will lead to an increase in the number of AIDS victims.

So, these are the reasons we are opposing the bill. On March 8 we had held a demonstration before the Parliament and spoke to a number of leaders and the concerned ministers.We had discussions with Binda Karat, Md Salim, Biman Bose and other leaders and they assured us that they would look into it. Now the bill has been sent to the standing committee.

KB:Now, a question on its funding.Who are the donor agencies which are helping your projects?
BD:We get financial assistance from Actionaid which is to the tune of Rs 20 lakh, from TDS of Switzerland we get Rs 25 lakh, UNDP grants us Rs 25 lakh.

From West Bengal SACS we get 1.86 crore for Kolkata and Rs 1.33 crore for the districts(Durgapur, Asansol).

KB:Now a personal question.What were the circumstances that forced you into Sonagachi?
BD:I came from Naihati.I married a man Bimal Dey of Patna who was already married.I had a son from him.But the honeymoon did not last long.He left me and I was left with no option but to join prostitution.

KB:Where is your son now?
BD:He is well settled.

KB:Where is your husband ?Did he ever try to contact you?
BD:No, I don’t know where he is or whether he knows about me.

KB:Do you still perform as a sex worker?
BD:No.Actually I have been burdened with huge responsibilities of Durbar.I lead a busy schedule having discussions with all the departments---anti-trafficking board , accounts, administration and other projects all through the day.

KB:Are you paid for your services as a programme director?
BD:Yes.