Archive · 9 Nov 2025
Sex Workers Flee Sonagachi Amidst Voter List Revision Panic
Imagine election workers in India are doing a big check-up to make sure everyone on the list to vote is still there and their information is correct.
They need people to show proof that they belong on the list, maybe by showing they're related to someone already on an old list from 2002.
In a big neighborhood in Kolkata called Sonagachi, where many sex workers live, this check-up is making them very worried.
They got the right to vote a long time ago, but now it's hard for them to prove who they are or where they belong because they might not be in touch with their families back home, or they don't have the right papers for Sonagachi.
Because they are scared they might lose their chance to vote, some of them are leaving their homes in Sonagachi.
People who help them are trying to calm them down and ask the election officials for special help.
This situation highlights how difficult it can be for people who have moved around or don't have strong family ties to prove they belong.
Sex workers in Sonagachi, Kolkata, who gained voting rights in 2007, are reportedly leaving the area due to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
An estimated 15,000 sex workers live in Sonagachi, and many are concerned about their voter registration status ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.
The SIR requires voters to trace their names to the electoral roll from 2002 or provide details of parents/relatives, a process complicated for sex workers who may have lost contact with families or lack stable residential proof.
The Durbar Mahila Samanvaya Committee (DMSC) plans to request special provisions from the Election Commission of India (ECI) for sex workers due to their marginalized status.
Panic has spread among sex workers, particularly those in lower-earning categories, leading to an exodus from the red-light area, with some seeking to return to their villages.
- Who
- Sex workers in Sonagachi, Kolkata; the Election Commission of India (ECI); local plumbers, party cadres, and young tech-savvy individuals.
- What
- Sex workers are leaving Sonagachi due to confusion and fear surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which requires voters to trace their names to previous rolls or family members. This process has caused significant anxiety and distress.
- When
- The SIR began on November 4, 2023, and continues until December 4, 2023. Sex workers gained voting rights in 2007.
- Where
- Sonagachi, Kolkata, West Bengal, India, and various other locations within the city and to rural villages.
- Why
- Panic among sex workers due to the SIR process, which makes it difficult for them to meet the verification criteria (linking to 2002 rolls or family members), leading them to fear exclusion from the voter's list. This fear is causing some to leave the area, particularly those who have lost contact with their families or lack stable residential proof.
ECI's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) Guidelines
Sex Workers' Concerns and Situation
Proof of Identity and Residence
ECI's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) Guidelines
Voters must trace their name or that of a parent/relative to the electoral roll from the last intensive revision in 2002. The SIR requires voters to trace their names to the electoral roll from 2002 or provide details of parents/relatives.
Sex Workers' Concerns and Situation
Many sex workers lack stable residential proof in Sonagachi and have lost touch with families in other districts, making it difficult to trace relatives or obtain necessary documents. This is compounded by the stigma of their profession. The process is complicated for sex workers who may have lost contact with families or lack stable residential proof.
Eligibility for Voter Registration
ECI's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) Guidelines
The SIR aims to verify and update electoral rolls for the 2026 Assembly elections. The SIR requires voters to trace their names to the electoral roll from 2002 or provide details of parents/relatives.
Sex Workers' Concerns and Situation
Sex workers who obtained voter cards in 2007 based on cooperative bank details are now in a panic, fearing their names will be removed if they cannot meet current verification criteria. This is causing some to leave Sonagachi. Panic has spread among sex workers, particularly those in lower-earning categories, leading to an exodus from the red-light area, with some seeking to return to their villages.
Marginalized Status
ECI's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) Guidelines
Standard procedures apply to all citizens for voter list revision. The SIR aims to verify and update electoral rolls for the 2026 Assembly elections.
Sex Workers' Concerns and Situation
Sex workers, especially those trafficked, duped, or from marginalized backgrounds, require special provisions due to their unique circumstances and difficulties in accessing documentation or family ties. The Durbar Mahila Samanvaya Committee (DMSC) plans to request special provisions from the Election Commission of India (ECI) for sex workers due to their marginalized status.
- Event
- Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls
- Location
- Sonagachi, Kolkata (India's largest red-light area)
- Estimated Sex Worker Population
- Around 15,000
- Voter Rights Granted
- 2007 (through cooperative initiative)
- SIR Timeline in West Bengal
- November 4 to December 4, 2023
- Previous Voter Roll Revision
- 2002
- Key Organization Involved
- Durbar Mahila Samanvaya Committee (DMSC)
Sources
Stamp-size photo rush for SIR forms gives Kolkata a lesson in free-market basics
SIR in Bengal: ECI warns strong disciplinary action against BLOs skipping door-to-door visits
SIR Forms Distributed On Bengal Streets, Complaint Filed With Poll Body
Sex workers in country’s largest red-light area got voting rights in 2007, now they are leaving in droves due to SIR
