The West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer’s (CEO) office will conduct a special assistance camp on December 9 in Sonagachi, Asia’s largest red-light district, to support sex workers struggling with voter enumeration forms during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The move comes after multiple organisations working for sex workers and their children expressed serious concerns about confusion, documentation gaps, and possible exclusion from the updated voter rolls.

A senior CEO office official confirmed that the camp aims to provide direct, doorstep assistance. As part of the initiative, Election Commission officials will “visit the wards within the 166-Shyampukur constituency to meet with sex workers, listen to their concerns, and provide the necessary assistance for completing the enumeration form fill-up”, he said.

Sex Workers in Multiple Localities Facing Difficulties

Civil society groups have reported similar issues in Kalighat and Kidderpore. According to Amra Padatik, one of the organisations raising the alarm, around 50 sex workers in Kalighat and nearly 70 in Kidderpore are unsure how to fill out the SIR forms or prove required documentation.

Representatives from these groups said they would approach the CEO’s office directly to ensure that women in these neighbourhoods receive the same support. “There are around 50 sex workers in Kalighat and 70 in Kidderpore area. They are confused about filling up the enumeration forms. We will talk to the officials at the CEO’s office,” he said.

On November 21, three organisations, Society for Human Development and Social Action, Usha Multipurpose Co-operative Society Ltd, and Amra Padatik, jointly emailed the CEO detailing widespread confusion within red-light areas. Some sex workers, overwhelmed by the demands of the process, were reportedly leaving the area out of fear of losing their voter status.

The 2002 Document Requirement Sparks Anxiety

The SIR, which updates voter rolls to eliminate errors and add eligible voters, includes a verification step requiring linkage to the 2002 electoral list. For many sex workers, this has become a major stumbling block.

A senior election official said several women cannot trace any records from 2002, as many never lived with their parents, had strained family connections, or lack documentation linking them to their childhood homes.

“We know many cannot find any linkage to the 2002 rolls,” the official said. “When the hearings begin after the draft rolls are released on December 9, we will hold special camps so cases can be resolved on the spot.” The Electoral Registration Officer will personally attend the Sonagachi camp to hear individual cases and ensure fair assessment.

Organisations Highlight Serious Documentation Challenges

Rights groups have stressed that many sex workers concealed their profession from families due to stigma, making retrieval of childhood documents nearly impossible. Others have lived independently since a very young age and have no knowledge of their parents’ identities. They argued that without compassionate flexibility, hundreds of women could face disenfranchisement despite being Indian citizens.

Sonagachi, home to nearly 10,000 sex workers, has been gripped by fear as rumours about the requirements spread. Groups working in the area said the atmosphere has become “deeply distressing,” with many residents unsure of their future voting rights.

EC Promises Sensitivity as Revision Process Continues

With the draft rolls releasing on December 9, claims and objections open until January 8, and hearings set from December 9 to January 31, the Election Commission aims to ensure no eligible sex worker is left out due to lack of documents. The final rolls will be published on February 7, 2026.

Rights groups also noted that many sex workers are already beneficiaries of state schemes including Lakshmir Bhandar and widow pensions, questioning why their eligibility is being doubted when government records clearly recognise them. The upcoming camp seeks to address these issues sensitively, offering clarity and relief to a community facing heightened uncertainty.

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