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Café mele…..a forum to share feelings and experience of the LGBTKH community

Café Mela is a pop-up for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Kothi and Hijra (LGBTKH) community members and allies to come together. It is a space where members of the LGBTKH community can meet, exchange ideas, enjoy, perform and celebrate. One of the main aims of

the space is to reach out to more members of the community in and around Kolkata.

On 5th August 2017 evening, the Café mela was hosted by Anandam which is a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Kothi and Hijra (LGBTKH) organization that fights for a process of social and political change to enhance the rights, dignity and quality of life of LGBTKH people

in Kolkata. It is a grassroots, community- led organization that works following a rights base framework.

It was the second annual Café Mela organised by Balaram Dey Anandam held at the terrace of 12/5 Nilmoni Mitra Street (Central office of Durbar). The first Café was held in September,

2016 -- a joint venture with “Adamanteve"/Amra Odbhudh Cafe --an incredible success.

In the very evening, a motley crew gathered at the terrace. It was an evening for members of the LGBTKH community to meet, greet and eat together. There were performances by several community members, as well as food stalls, hookah bar and handicrafts for sale. The

participation was overwhelming with 30 community members coming for the Café Mela. The terrace was buzzing with conversation and music. The food was a hit.

Raina Roy, a veteran trans activist working for the Transgender movement and one of the co-founders of “Somobhabona” (an organisation working to empower the grassroot LGBTQ

community) also participated in the Café Mela and spread the word that they are eager to work with ANANDAM on different issues related to the betterment of the community members.

15 t h August 2017

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Sex Workers of Sonagachi celebrated Raksha Bandhan

On 9th August 2017 the sex workers of Sonagachi celebrated Rakhi Purnima by tying Rakhis to the

wrists of passer-by, in the hope of receiving equal respect in society and to promote communa l harmony. The special event was organised by Durbar

Mahila Samanwaya Committee in association with Amra Padatik (an organisation of the children of sex

workers) in Abinash Kabiraj Street (near Durbar’s Clinic). It was a whole day program. A makeshift stage has been erected and stalwarts from various

walks of life were invited to attend the program.

This auspicious festival was celebrated with an objective to celebrate and to reduce tension between sex workers and other communities. The event was inaugurated by the local Counsellor (Ward no. 18) Ms. Sunanda Sarkar.

A significant numbers of politicians, Govt. officials, academicians, social activists and

intellectuals were present in the program to celebrate Raksha Bandhan with the sex workers. Former State Transport Minister Mr. Modan Mitra, Kolkata Mayor Parishod Mr. Debasish

Kumar, Counsellor of Ward No. 48 Mr. Satyendra Nath Dey, Counsellor of Ward No. 26

Mr. Robin Chottopadhyay and Managing Director of West Bengal State Fisheries Mr. Soumyajit Das were among many others personalities who

graced the occasion with their presence.

“There have been so many incidents of communa l unrest of late. We thought, by celebrating Raksha Bandhan people will get the message to come close to develop bondage aacross class, creed, religions. This is the path shown by

Rabindranath Tagore, who himself once propagated Rakhi (festival) to reach out to all different sects of communities,” said Smarajit Jana, Chief advisor of DMSC.

“It will also help sex workers to gain dignity and confidence when they people in such events. We are organising this event with

their help of many dignitaries not only sex workers of Sonagachi,

people from different red light areas are also invited,” said Ms. Bharati Dey, the mentor of DMSC.

Mr. Madan Mitra in his speech said

that he is delighted to be a part of the program. He also said that he will get the message to come close to

develop bondage across class, creed, religions.always cooperate Durbar in organising of this kind.

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Mr. Debasish Kumar in his speech said, “Today is a very auspicious day. I wish Durbar and

Amra Padatik for organising this event. The sisters of Durbar does not require any sympathy

and compassion. They want respect so in today’s Rakhi bandhan festival we should pledge to

honor sex workers”.

Right to Food Campaign…a review meeting

A two days review meeting on ‘Right to Food Campaign’ was held at Gandhi Peace

Foundation, Delhi from July 27th -28th 2017. In addition to West Bengal, about 70 representatives from 11 states joined the meeting. Being an active member of the platform, a representative from Durbar participated in the discussion.

The topics discussed in the sessions includes the review of the work done in different states by

National Food Security Projects namely I.C.D.S, fair price shop, mid-day-meal, maternity benefits and NREGA. In this regard, Durbar done a study to access how the ration shops are performing in Sonagachi area. The survey report was presented in the meeting followed by a

question-answer session was held. It was decided that to attract the attention of the policy makers a rally would be organised at Jantar Mantar stretching from 11 th to 15th September 2017.

Finally Sonagachi will celebrate Durga Puja this year

On the directives of the Kolkata High Court, Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee again got

the permission to organise Durga Puja this year. On Thursday (17 th August 2017), Justice Debangshu Basak of Kolkata High Court issued this directive.

Since 2013, Durbar has been organising Durga Puja at Sonagachi but every year the organisation has to move to the court to obtain permission. During 2013 and 2014 the sex

workers were told to organise the Durga Puja in a small area inside Durbar’s clinic. In 2015, Durbar had to move the court again so that it could organise the puja in an open space.

After the court's permission the Durga puja was organized in a plot owned by Kolkata Municipal Corporation but this place was small and the entry point was very narrow.

This year again Durbar requested the administration of North Kolkata to give permission to hold Durga puja outside the clinic area of Durbar but the adminis tration did not grant

permission. So, like previous years Durbar move to the court and file a petition file petition to the High Court for justice. Justice Mr. Basak in his verdict permit Durbar to organise Durga

puja in the open ground following the general guidelines issued by the administration what is applicable for all other pujas.

Editor: Smarajit Jana Bulletin team: Mousumi Chowdhury (Dam) and Anuja Dhar

Published by Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee,

44 Balaram Dey Street, Kolkata -700006, India/ For feedback: durbar.communication@gmail.com; Website: www.durbar.org