Opinion: Beyond the Red Light — Survival, stigma and struggle of India’s sex workers

Community networks are changing the lives of sex workers, but challenges such as social prejudice and systemic neglect remain

By Saikat Sarkar, Shayan Das

Sex work in India exists at a complex intersection of legality, social norms, and economic survival. Kolkata and Mumbai — both cities, with their histories of migration and urbanisation, have developed large and well-established sex industries. The paradox places sex workers in a precarious position, operating within informal economies where legal protections are absent and exploitation is common.

This article examines the economic survival strategies of sex workers in Kolkata and Mumbai, and investigates the role of unions in advocating for social justice and governance mechanisms that regulate this informal economy

Survival Str