Delhi's sex workers keep date with democracy

They may have been ostracised by the society but sex workers of Delhi turned out in substantial numbers on Monday to keep their date with democracy.

They may have been ostracised by the society but sex workers of Delhi turned out in substantial numbers on Monday to keep their date with democracy as the capital voted for electing seven Lok Sabha members.

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With their faces covered, sex workers of G B Road, Delhi's largest red light area, reached polling stations in small groups to exercise their franchise.

The four polling booths of the area recorded a turnout of nearly 50 per cent, a figure which is better than the areas inhabiting educated middle class voters.

While many shied away from the mediapersons, particularly the camerapersons who wanted to take their photographs, some of them shared with the journalists the motivation they had to participate in the democratic exercise.

"There is acute shortage of water in our area. Power cuts are frequent, drainages are uncovered and roads are dirty," said Sonali (name changed) after casting her vote along with four other girls who complained of rising prices of essential commodities and cosmetics.

Apparently respecting the sex workers' choice of participating in the democratic exercise, the Presiding Officer of a polling booth dissuaded press photographers from taking their pictures.