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SIR Camps for Sex Workers: The Election Commission is going to set up a special camp for sex workers working in red light areas like Sonagachi.
30 November, 2025
SIR Camps for Sex Workers: At present, the process of Special Intensive Review (SIR) is going on on the lines of Bihar in 12 states and union territories of the country including Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal. In this sequence, the Election Commission has started a big initiative in Kolkata. The Election Commission is going to organize a special camp for sex workers working in red light areas like Sonagachi, so that everyone’s participation can be ensured in the democratic process.
Special camps will be organized on 2nd and 3rd December
An official said that the Election Commission may organize special camps in the red-light areas of Kolkata on 2 and 3 December. These camps can be organized to overcome the difficulties faced by sex workers during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls. The initial phase of SIR will run till December 4, while the draft voter list is going to be published on December 9. “Despite this timeline, the Commission has decided to set up the camp before the end of the initial phase,” the official said.
Sex worker scared of filling the form
On November 21, three organizations working with sex workers – Society of Human Development and Social Action, Usha Multipurpose Co-operative Society Limited and Amra Padatik emailed the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) about major problems being faced in the enumeration. Amra Padatik Advocacy Officer Mahasweta Mukherjee went to the CEO’s office on Saturday and submitted a formal letter detailing the problems in Sonagachi, Sethbagan, Rambagan, Jorbagan, Kidderpore, Kalighat and Bowbazar. Amra Padatik’s secretary Shatabdi Saha said that many sex workers have fled the areas due to fear of filling the forms. He requested to set up a camp on 2 December.
CEO himself can go to camp
The official said, “CEO Manoj Aggarwal promised to provide special hearing facilities in red-light areas including Sonagachi. The CEO directed the District Election Officer and Electoral Registration Officer to deploy officers to help the sex workers in the red-light areas.” In its response, the CEO’s office said that officials will be sent to the listed areas and special camps will be set up on December 2 and 3 to resolve counting-related problems on the spot. The CEO also told that he himself can go to a camp.
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