Covid-19: Sex workers shut shop in Bhiwandi

Even as Mumbai prepares to shut down completely in the light of the COVID-19 epidemic, daily villagers, including sex workers, are worst affected in the crisis. More than 300 sex workers in Bhiwandi town of Thane district of Maharashtra decided to shut down their business for a few days as a precaution against the deadly virus.

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Dr. Swati Khan, who runs a center for children of sex workers, held a meeting with them on Friday, during which it was decided that sex trade will not be carried out in the area for the next couple of days.

Hanuman Tekri area of Bhiwandi employs more than 300 sex workers and the center, which is affiliated to the Shramjeevi Sangathan, looks after its children. Dr. Khan said that no customers would be allowed to enter the area during this period.

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Meanwhile, union president Vivek Pandit said that the organization would provide daily essentials to workers and their families for the next two weeks during the bandh. Maharashtra has recorded 19 positive cases of COVID-19, the highest in the country.