We have often discussed that the names of women in the red-light area are frequently changed. Sometimes, they are compelled by circumstances to change their names.  In many cases, the aadmis (fancyman/pimp) insist that the women change their children’s names and very often their religion as well. The names of the children change again if the mother changes her aadmi, Gulnaz (name changed) is one of the women whose child stays in our night care center. In our interactions with her, she has shared that she is married to her aadmi but the team has not been able to verify the same.

Gulnaz’s aadmi often beats her. She is concerned about her child’s future and wanted to open a bank account for him and start saving money. However, as mentioned above, many residents of the red light area have different names. Often, their documents have different names that make it challenging to get bank accounts or other benefits. In this case, Gulnaz’s name on her identity documents and her name on her child’s birth certificate does not match, making it hard for her to create an account in his name. She tried to get her name corrected in the documents but when her partner got to know, he got violent again. He does not want her to open an account, or change her name.

At present, the team has been following-up with her. They have informed her that whenever she is ready, they will assist her through the process of getting her name changed. Gulnaz’s story echoes with many women in the red-light area who dream of better lives for their children but due to the strapping control by their perpetrator, they are often not in a position to exercise their agency.