The Gauhati High Court has directed the Cachar deputy commissioner and the secretary of the District Legal Services Authority of Cachar to provide rations to the sex workers of Silchar during the Covid19 pandemic.
According to media reports, a bench of the Gauhati High Court, led by Chief Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Justice MR Pathak, issued the directive while hearing a plea to provide relief to the sex workers of Silchar, who have been severely hit by Covid19 pandemic.
The PIL was filed by Debajit Gupta of Srikona in Silchar.
It has been reported that the Cachar deputy commissioner, informed the High Court bench that the district administration has already identified the sex workers and their families.
In an order (Criminal Appeal No 135 of 210 – Buddhadev Karmakar vs the State of West bengal & others) passed on September 29, 2020, the Supreme Court observed that the sex workers have a right to live with dignity as they are human beings, the HC bench noted.
The apex court had also constituted a committee to look into the conditions of sex workers in the country.
According to reports, there are around 70 sex workers earn for their families of about 300 people in the redlight area of Silchar but the Covid19 restrictions have severely affected the livelihood of the sex workers.