On the occasion of Women's Day, MiD DAY caught up with a few women who ventured into the male-dominated territory of katha, chuna and khimam betel leaf business
On the occasion of Women's Day, MiD DAY caught up with a few women who ventured into the male-dominated territory of katha, chuna and khimam betel leaf business
Calling her the harbinger of a silent revolution gripping Kamathipura, the world's largest red light area, won't be an exaggeration. She has not only quit flesh trade, but also has been encouraging others to shun the profession and start life afresh.
Tanzila Bibi runs a paan shop at Nagpada since three years
Meet Sheela Sharma (35, name changed), who was in the flesh trade for around a decade, but one fine morning last year she decided to quit the profession as she wanted to earn a living with dignity and put her only child through school.
At present, she works at a paan shop selling Calcutta and Banarasi beeda to her former customers in the area. She has sent her son, studying in Std VI, to a boarding school away from the red light area as she wants to "see him becoming a successful man some day".
So how did the idea embark on her? "Some NGO people convinced me to quit prostitution and look for something that will allow me die with dignity at least.
They also told me that they could help me find a job and also provide assistance in sending my son to a government-run boarding school," said Sheela, who has been working with volunteer organisations to convince more people to quit prostitution and take up dignified jobs.
The owner of the shop where Sheela works said, "I employed Sheela at my shop as she was really in need and no one was willing to employ a woman who was involved in flesh trade."
If Sheela's decision was daring and revolutionary, the move of Tanzila Biwi, another woman from the same locality who was never associated with prostitution, could be called a rebellion.
Tanzila, a lonely woman in the city, decided to start selling paans, a business dominated by men.
She has been running a paan shop at Nagpada for the past three years. She pays Rs 200 a day as rent for the shop.
The art of making paan (beedas) was supposed to be the prerogative of men, but Tanzila learnt the tricks by merely observing a few paanwadis (people who are expert in making paan).
"I am on my own in this maximum city. I have no one from my family here. I open my shop at 4 am and run it till 10pm at night. I open shop early because I get customers in huge number at that time as Kamathipura is nearby.
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Though major chunk of the earning goes in paying rent, it helps me a living with dignity which many woman in the red light district are devoid of.
When I started this business, I know little about the art of making paan, but now I am an expert in making Calcutta and Banarasi paan. Koi apne maa ke pet se to seek ke nai aata na," said a confident Tanzila.
Apart from Sheela and Tanzila there are no other women selling paan in the area.
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