Are we this regressive to understand real needs of sex workers in India?
After listening to Kiran Deshmukh, the President of the National Network of Sex Workers in India and a member of Veshya Anyay Mukti Parishad (VAMP), during her recent interview, I found myself reflecting on a complex issue that often divides public opinion: the legalization of prostitution in India. It made me rethink everything I thought I knew with a different unexplored in length perspective. While the country remains engaged in endless debates over whether prostitution should be legalized, it struck me how decisively the voices of those directly affected—like Kiran—differ from the mainstream discourse. When asked whether prostitution should be legalized, her firm response was, "No, it should not be legalized, it should only be decriminalized." This made me pause. In a country as diverse and complex as India, we are used to navigating debates around issues that range from progressive to regressive. But are we truly as regressive as we seem when it comes to understanding th
