Soccer Changes the Lives of Daughters of Sex Workers

Daughters of Kolkata's sex workers are passionate about playing soccer as the World Cup fever spreads to all countries. Fifteen-year-old Tulsi Sardar, daugher of a sex worker, looks up to Brazilian football star Ronaldo as her idol and enjoys playing football.

"I love to play football, but there is also another reason why I play it. Children of sex-workers cannot hold their heads up high. But I want to show everyone that even though I am a sex worker's daughter, I can play well and earn a name for myself in the society," said Sardar.

The girls belong to Rahul Vidya Niketan, a home for sex workers' children, run by the Durbar Mahila Samanway Samity, a non-governmental organization working for sex workers.

Of the total girls living at the home, 19 are avid football players. The girls are all aged between 13 and 15 years.

"I like to play football a lot. If I weren't on the football team then maybe even I would have resorted to being a sex worker like my mother. That is why I have started playing football," said Tumpa Das, daughter of a sex worker.

The Vidya Niketan hopes that the girls can make their way into mainstream society, and are treated with equality. Soccer is another reason to encourage them to not adopt their mothers' professions.

"We encourage them to play football because it is our goal that we should bring these children into the mainstream society. This is one of our strategies to bring them into the mainstream society," said Santanu Das, in-charge of the Rahul Vidyaniketan.

Source-ANI