Work in red light areas
The risks faced by children living in red light areas
Children living in red light areas are among the most vulnerable to exploitation and abuse, as they exist in an environment which is riddled with violence, alcohol, drugs, trafficking and deprivation.
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Children under the age of five spend much of their lives under the bed while their mothers are busy with clients. As they grow up, they find themselves either spending time outside the door of the brothel, or being sent on errands by clients. Of those that go to school, their education is severely hampered and many have no space to do their homework, or study, in the evenings. Many other children are unable to go to school for a number of social and economic reasons. As girls reach adolescence, they become prime targets for pimps and clients and are at high risk of either being trafficked into sex work or being married off at a young age, violating their rights of having a childhood protected from abuse and exploitation. |
The situation in Rambagan, Kolkata
Rambagan, in north Kolkata, is one of 27 red light areas in the city. Statistics suggest that 100,000 sex workers operate in the city and, of these, 40% are below the age of 18. Brothels co-exist with slums and the homes of small traders.
The situation in Khalpara, Siliguri
Khalpara is a red light area in Siliguri, a trading town in North Bengal located at the foothills of the Himalayas. It has approximately 50 brothels and 600-700 sex workers. It is the gateway to the north eastern states of India, as well as Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan. Many of the women who earn a living through sex work have been trafficked from Bihar and Assam, as well as from the neighbouring countries of Bangladesh and Nepal.
The evening education centres
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In cooperation with local clubs, safe spaces have been found in schools and vacant rooms at houses in Rambagan and Kalpara.
At these centres, children age 5-18 years will have the opportunity to study and receive extra teaching support and leisure activities in the evening when they might otherwise have been in situations of risk to their personal safety.
These evening education centres are staffed by community teachers and staff from local youth clubs. |
Educational programmes
We carried out educational programmes specific to the slum and red light areas of Kolkata. Many children at risk in this red light area have now been mainstreamed into formal schools. Around 250 school-going and non school-going children received educational support in the form of books, admission charges, uniforms and school bags.
Crèche
This provides working mothers with a safe space for children below the age of six.
Children above the age of 14
We provided 10 children with a route out of poverty, through their own efforts, by supporting them on courses which included computer training, hotel management and equipment repair.
Children’s council
We established and developed a children’s council to enable children to act as watchdogs and help prevent any violation of their rights.
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