Special Covid-19 vaccination drive for sex workers in Mumbai

Over 1,300 sex workers from Kamathipura to be vaccinated over next three days after overcoming their fear of the jab, rooted in belief that it will make them ill and miss out on work

Over the weekend, around 100 commercial sex workers (CSW) in South Mumbai’s Kamathipura got their first vaccine shots in an ongoing drive. The area has nearly 1,500 sex workers living in six lanes where it has been business as usual without Covid-19 cases or deaths amid the second wave. Vaccination, however, has met with roadblocks like hesitancy and lack of documentation.

It has been business as usual in Kamathipura though the volume has reduced. Pic/Pradeep Dhivar

This is being dealt with various solutions being employed by civic officials and local political representatives.

Many CSWs do not have an Aadhaar card. As per the records of an NGO working in the area, only 650 CSWs have Aadhaar cards.

Makrand Dagadkhair, assistant commissioner, E ward, said, “Many CSWs don’t have Aadhaar cards or other official documents. We have received a circular from the central government about a special sanction under which these people can be vaccinated. I have made a proposal for the same and we should get CSWs without documentation vaccinated at the earliest.”

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Dagadkhair said that special drives in the area have been conducted to control Covid-19. “We have been conducting special screening camps. In the first wave, there were many positive cases. There haven’t been any in the second wave so far,” he said.   

Counselling of community

Around 1,364 sex workers will be vaccinated under the drive, initiated by local MLA Amin Patel, in the next three days. On Sunday, Patel, along with a few vaccinated CSWs, counselled the others. “We had an informal chat with the CSWs to understand their stand on vaccination. A majority of them felt that taking the vaccine would make them fall ill and affect their work,” said Patel.

MLA Amin Patel during a counselling session with commercial sex workers on Sunday

“I have promised to take care of them if they fall ill after taking the vaccine. Over the next three days, BEST buses will take CSWs to the three vaccination centres nearby,” said Patel.

Incomes hit significantly

Meanwhile, work has been going on as usual, but with migrants returning to their hometowns, there has been a significant dip in customers. “Contract labourers, many taxi drivers who are our clients, have returned to their hometowns. As compared to five clients daily before the lockdown, now there are hardly one or two,” said Purnima, 28.

When asked about Covid-19-related precautions, Shaila, 21, said, “We were told to wear masks and social distance. How is that even possible in our profession? God has been kind, so far. Nothing untoward has happened in the pandemic. We have faced and survived HIV. Corona can’t do anything to us.” Shaila provides for her family in Pune.

Shabnam, who hails from West Bengal, said that the only thing affected is their income. “We live in 2x6 ft rooms and have to pay a rent of Rs 250 a day. In the past few months, there have hardly been any earnings. We are surviving hand-to-mouth. Some NGOs have helped us with ration and food regularly,” she said. Most of the CSWs hail from West Bengal and have families to look after.

Shankar Mugalkhod, founder of NGO Grace Foundation that has been actively working in Kamathipura said that the major challenge for them has been food and paying the rent. “While many haven’t paid their rent for months, we have been providing them with food and regularly checking if anyone needs medical help. So far, they have managed to support each other in this crisis and sail through,” said Mugalkhod.

1,364
No. of sex workers in line to be vaccinated

650
No. of sex workers out of nearly 1,500 who have Aadhaar Cards

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