Sex workers demand legalisation of prostitution

Buoyed over Supreme Court's observation on legalising prostitution, a number of sex workers and associations working for their uplift have demanded that the world's oldest profession be brought under the purview of law.

Buoyed over Supreme Court's observation on legalising prostitution, a number of sex workers and associations working for their uplift have demanded that the world's oldest profession be brought under the purview of law.

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Workers at the city's prominent redlight area, Garstin Bastion (GB) Road, feel that legalising the trade will put an end to their problems such as exploitation by criminal elements and help them live a better life.

Welfare groups working for their uplift are also planning to submit a memorandum to the government in support of their demands.

"There are lots of problems faced by sex workers. If it is legalised, they would have proper health cards and a valid licence. This will help them in living a humble social life. We will soon meet the official and give them a memorandum to inform them about our demands," Iqbal, Head of Delhi unit, Bhartiya Patita Uddhar Sabha, an NGO working for the welfare of sexworkers said.

In its significant remarks, a Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Dalveer Bhandari and A K Patnaik on December nine had asked the Centre whether it can legalise prostitution if it is not practically possible to curb the world's oldest profession with punitive measures.