The Change Makers at GB Road

The generosity of two young Samaritans hailing from sex workers community is providing a new lease of life to the children of sex workers in Garstin Bastion Road, New Delhi, which is a major red light area in the country.   

GB road has a large and strong nexus of prostitutes, pimps and traffickers, forcing innocent and vulnerable girls and women for sex trade. Only 10 % or even less than of the total earning goes to the victim (sex workers) from which she has to manage her expenses. 

While the sex workers are into their business, their children roam on the road or stay in the dark closed rooms (that are used for keeping make up boxes or luggages) without going to school. These circumstances badly impact the access, availability and affordability of education to the children of Female Sex Workers.

“Children of sex workers are most often not taken into schools due to identity crisis, as most of them are not aware of their father. On the other side, even if registered in the school, children have to face stigma, for the reason that they belong to sex workers community”, says Raghav, an outreach worker of Pahal project, a day care center that ensures care to the children of sex workers community.

Raghav (21) and Vasim (20) (names changed) hailing from sex workers community underwent this harrowing experience in school and at work place that hampered their growth. “The school teachers after identifying children hailing from sex workers background often tease and black mail them which have impact on their self esteem. It doesn’t stop here, as the other school kids and parents do the same”, says Vasim. 

 

Born in GB road and educated till Tenth standard from ICSE syllabus, the duo did petty jobs in offices nearby GB road, but they were often bullied by their colleagues due to their background. “When the colleagues come to know about our identity, they ask us to take them to GB road for having fun. They avoid us and socially reject us in many ways thus hampering our growth”, the duo says.

It was around that time that they came to know about Pahal project,  that offers educational and vocational rehabilitation and prevents second generation girls from entering sex work, implemented by Aide et Action South Asia (NGO).  “In Pahal, there are many kids who belong to same community as us but are innocent children. Then we made our minds, to help these children get a better future, so that they don’t remain in this dark field”, Vasim adds.  They strongly feel that stigma and rejection from the society should not stop children of sex workers community from building a better future.

With the kind of interaction they have with the community of GB road, every day morning the duo visit the houses of sex workers and bring their children to Pahal center. “As we are much known to the community, the sex workers have faith and hope that drives them to send children with us”, says Raghav. 

The project has created a positive and conducive environment for the children in the age group of 0-6 years. “The children are taught poems, basic maths and english, reading books, singing and rhythmic movements which keep them active and included in the community that contributes to their physical and gross motor skill development”, says Vasim.

The children are given breakfast, lunch, evening snacks every day. Periodic health checkups are also organized for both the children and their mothers.  

Once the children attain a stage, where they can do things independently, their parents strongly feel that they must be sent to far off hostels and get a good future. “Many children in Pahal after attaining six years are sent to government school hostels and join formal education system as other kids”, says Raghav. The fee is paid by the single mother and most of the times, the children is never told about his/her background and remain anonymous, he adds.

                                                                                                

                                                         

                                                     By Amoga Laxmi Sukka

The story was featured in ACJ ENGAGE, application, a joint initiative of Asian College of Journalism,  Chennai and UNICEF.

The story was published in One World South Asia, that works in the field of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for sustainable development and human rights. The OneWorld network disseminates relevant and topical information to audiences worldwide on development issues, makes technology work for the people at the grassroots and conducts research on best practices in governance.