New Delhi: Nafeesa, who has been living in Delhi's infamous G.B. Road red-light area for 15 years, feels lucky to be included among the over 1,500 sex workers who would cast their votes in the Dec 4 Delhi assembly elections - thanks to an enrolment drive by the state election commission.
Nafeesa, name changed, was among 300 women from G.B. Road who were enrolled during a camp held in the area by the Delhi State Election Commission.
"This year we have provided 300 sex workers with voter ID cards. We have applications from around 1,000 more candidates from G.B. Road for voter ID cards but their verification is yet to be done," a senior government official of the area told IANS on condition of anonymity.
There has been a steady rise in the number of sex workers enrolling as voters, the official said . From 300 who got enrolled ahead of the 2003 elections, the number went up to 1,200 in the 2008 elections, he said.
"I was trafficked in Delhi in 1998 and sold at brothel number 64 at G.B. Road. Since the 2003 assembly elections, I have been trying to get a voter ID card but failed every time due to incomplete documentation. This year I have got my card and will cast my vote," Nafeesa told IANS.
