Indian politicians are courting women in this year’s national elections, but one group of women still feels ignored: sex workers.
Decades of being snubbed and harassed by the police, the government and the general populace have convinced many sex workers there is no place for them in the political process.
“Most sex workers feel, ‘what is the point of voting if none of the parties have anything in their manifestos for us?’” said Seema Sayyed, manager of Aastha Parivaar, a Mumbai-based federation of sex workers.
The Congress Party’s Rahul Gandhi has called for the empowerment of India’s women and the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Narendra Modi has promised “security to every mother and daughter.” But sex workers feel the promises are not directed at them. Continue Reading.
