Annam Suresh is a freelance journalist reporting on issues of gender, sexuality, prostitution, human rights and travel. Her work spanning over 25 years has brought her several awards including the Calderwood Non-fiction Grant, Laadli Regional and National Award for Gender Sensitivity, Chameli Devi Jain Award, Brief Media Award, Hunger Foundation Prize, NFI Media Fellowship and The Statesman Rural Reporting Award (twice). She can be reached at annam.suresh@journalist.com.
Bengaluru’s sex workers didn’t get ration kits or financial aid during the lockdown despite government’s promises. Stigma, absence of a cohesive community, lack of documents, etc., have prevented them from accessing support.
Post COVID lockdown, sex workers in Bengaluru are struggling for survival. Loss of livelihood has made them even more vulnerable to violence and destitution.