Written by Sharadiya Mitra,
From conducting anti-trafficking drives to running tuition centres, children of sex workers formed an organisation in 1995 to help their peers and fight stigma in the country’s largest red-light area.
In the narrow lanes of Sonagachi — where red lights have long symbolized stigma and survival — a quiet revolution has been taking root. Amid daily struggles, the daughters of sex workers, once burdened by discrimination, are emerging as educators, mentors, and changemakers. Their goal is to reshape the narrative, offering hope and dignity to the next generation.
This year, the DMSC is celebrating Rabindra Jayanti alongside Mother’s Day, with mothers and children performing together in an act of unity, love, and resistance.
“When I was a child, society constantly reminded me of where I came from. My mother was a sex worker, and people never let me forget it,” shared a 25-year-old teacher now working with a local NGO. “But today, I teach my daughter to hold her head high. Her grandmother did what she had to, and there’s no shame in that. Now, my daughter stands beside me, working to help others.”
Her story reflects a larger shift. With support from the Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee (DMSC) — a grassroots collective championing sex workers’ rights — young women have been leading an initiative since 2020, focused on education, emotional support, and creative engagement for children in red-light areas.
Their mission is to ensure no child grows up feeling ashamed of their roots, but instead learns to thrive in a society that often turns its back on them.
Another woman, aged 32, reflected on the movement’s meaning with Mother’s Day approaching. “This isn’t just about education. It’s about honouring our mothers,” she said. “My mother gave everything to raise me right. This work is my gift to her. She taught me strength, self-respect, and never to depend on anyone.” For many, this effort is deeply personal — it is a way to carry forward their mothers’ resilience.
At the helm of this movement is Mahasweta Mukherjee, head of the DMSC. “We want to give both sex workers and their children an identity rooted in pride, not prejudice,” she said. The centres not only offer education but also training in dance, art, and other forms of creative expression, helping children build confidence and find joy.
The initiative now runs centres across West Bengal, including Sonagachi, Kalighat, Kidderpore, Jorabagan, and others—each supporting 30-35 children — with more planned in Chetla and Asansol.
Through education and empowerment, these daughters are not just shedding old labels. They are forging new identities. Backed by compassion and conviction, they are not waiting for society’s validation. They are creating their own.