A sex worker in Sonagachi, who refused to provide soil for idol making this year, is protesting the justice demanded for a victim of rape and murder at R. G. Kar Hospital.
The secretary of the Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee, Bisakha Laskar, has refused to provide soil for idol making from the sex workers’ courtyard this year as a protest against the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor at R. G. Kar Hospital.
Durga Puja, the largest festival in West Bengal, involves idol makers using soil from sex workers’ localities to create goddess idols. However, the sex workers of Sonagachi, under the Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee, have stopped lending soil to idol makers due to demand for respect for women in the community.
Sex workers in India’s largest red light area have been fighting for women’s respect and safety for years. Bharati Dey, the mentor of the Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee, stated that their demand for women’s respect and safety is ongoing, but their refusal to give soil for idol making is not related to the alleged R G Kar Hospital rape and murder case. Dey also expressed solidarity with protesting citizens and called for the fight to be respected throughout the year, not just during pujas.