Sex workers open school for their children, slum dwellers

KOLKATA - Sex workers in West Bengal have pooled their resources to set up a primary school for their children as well as those of slum dwellers.

Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee, an organisation working for the uplift of sex workers and their families in West Bengal, has built the school at Titagarh in North 24-Parganas district, 30 km away from Kolkata.

“Earlier, the students would have to study in a makeshift structure. But now we have a concrete building. We pooled our resources and also got help from Titagarh municipality,” said Bharati, an office-bearer of the committee.

“The school will provide education to the children of not only the sex workers but also those from the slums,” she added.

The committee represents 65,000 sex workers (males, females and transgenders).