A light to Sex workers

Naseema, the young daughter of a sex worker in this north Bihar district headquarters town, has set a unique example with her dogged determination to bring a new ray of hope for the hapless residents of the local red light area.

Brought up at a brothel in Chaturbhuj Sthan, the infamous red light zone here, Naseema took a vow to rescue those, who were forcibly dragged into prostitution, and devoted herself voluntarily to provide a dignified life to the local sex workers.

After forming a voluntary organisation 'Pracham', Naseema started encouraging the sex workers to give up the oldest profession in the world and choose alternative ways and means to earn their livelihood.

Realising the plight of sex workers, most of whom felt suffocated in the prevailing atmosphere, 26-year-old Naseema started helping them out by providing them with alternative sources of income, which were readily accepted by the hapless women as it also ensured them a dignified life.
   
Naseema has so far been able to change the course of life of over 50 sex workers and their children, born at the brothels of Chaturbhuj Sthan.

Inspired by Naseema's example and determination, the sex workers are gradually giving up their hated profession to embrace the new respectful and dignified life.

Despite facing a lot of obstacles from various quarters at the beginning of her pioneering work, she arranged various trainings for the sex workers in a small rented room near the town's red light area.

Encouraged by her efforts and in their own desperation to quit the profession slowly but steadily, a large number of sex workers started joining the new training courses in stitching, knitting, screen painting and other alternative jobs.

Naseema also started a small library for lending books and magazines to sex workers free of cost, besides enabling them to read and write.

These former sex workers have now formed several cultural and drama groups and with her help they even organise street dramas and small public performances in the red light areas to motivate their former co-workers to give up prostitution.

According to Naseema, 'only those who have experienced the pain and agony of sex workers could bring about a change in their lifestyle and environment.' She also believes that prostitution can never be abolished by force and hopes that instead of abruptly closing down the red light areas without providing any alternative source of income to the sex workers, the administration should come forward with attractive rehabilitation packages.