The West Bengal state health department has decided to provide free cervical cancer vaccination to girl children living in the state's red-light areas, extending the recently launched statewide immunisation drive to one of its most vulnerable populations. The initiative will begin at Sonagachi in North Kolkata — Asia's oldest and largest red-light district — and will be implemented in partnership with a local welfare organisation.

How the Programme Will Work

The state government will run the vaccination drive in association with the Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee, a non-governmental organisation dedicated to the welfare of sex workers and their children in the Sonagachi area. State Health Minister Dr Sharadwat Mukherjee has requested the committee to furnish a list of girl children between the ages of 14 and 15 years from the locality for inclusion under the free vaccination scheme.

Durbar secretary Bishakha Lashkar told reporters on Monday that Dr Mukherjee was present at the 31st anniversary of the Durbar's foundation on Sunday, where he formally sought the list and confirmed that the vaccinations would be provided at no cost to the families.

Additional Health Measures at Sonagachi

Alongside the vaccination drive, the state health department has also decided to install condom-vending machines in the Sonagachi area, free of cost, as part of a broader public health intervention. The dual initiative signals a more comprehensive approach to reproductive and preventive health in a community that has historically faced barriers to accessing formal healthcare.

Recognition of Children and Support for Elderly Sex Workers

At the Durbar anniversary event on Sunday, the organisation felicitated children of sex workers in the Sonagachi area who appeared for the Secondary and Higher Secondary examinations this year. Financial assistance was also extended to elderly sex workers who have exited the profession due to age, reflecting the committee's multi-pronged welfare mandate.

Wider School Vaccination Drive Across West Bengal

The Sonagachi initiative is part of a larger statewide push. Last week, the West Bengal health department announced plans to reach all girls' schools across the state and organise on-campus cervical cancer vaccination camps. Before conducting these camps, the government has said it will obtain consent from the guardians of students enrolled in those schools — a step aimed at ensuring informed participation and building community trust in the programme.

The inclusion of girls in red-light areas underscores the state's intent to leave no demographic behind as it scales up cervical cancer prevention efforts. With the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine recognised globally as a critical tool in reducing cervical cancer incidence, the success of this outreach could set a precedent for similar targeted drives in other states.