By Ajay Mardikar

Ram Ingole started his activities about 34 years back, as a small worker with ex-MP late Jambuwantrao Dhote. The task was innovative and difficult to be assimilated by the society. Dhote had come to Nagpur to save the commercial sex workers, who were facing threat of displacement due to political and social pressures.

It is said that the Nagpur area of commercial sex workers called ‘Ganga Jamuna’ was created by a reputed in the pre-independence period. The area was on the outskirts of the main city. With the expansion of the city, the area bound by four roads came within the city limits and later under the jurisdiction of Nagpur Municipal Corporation. Even when commercial sex workers were felt the necessity of society and were called the oldest profession in society, it was not openly accepted. The stigma attached to the profession resulted in residents in the neighbourhood raising voice against them. They wanted to throw them again to the outskirts of the city. The local political leaders had an eye over the area, which was now a prominent location within the city limits. Society was not opposed to the political efforts to displace the commercial sex workers, who had stayed there for generations.

Jambhuwantrao Dhote, a social worker from Yavatmal came to their rescue. He organised ‘Raksha Bandhan’ at the place, got tied Rakhi from them, and raised voice against their displacement.

Ram Ingole was one among the workers following Dhote. The move of politicians fizzled out. Most of the workers, including Dhote left the place gradually. Ingole, however, continued working with them. He did not oppose their profession, as their rehabilitation in society was and is very difficult. He formed their organisation ‘Amrapali’, which is now a registered body with the Charity Commissioner. Amrapali drafted rules and regulations for carrying out the profession and submitted them to the Commissioner of Police. It was expected that following the rule frame by them would help in preventing their harassment by the police. However, this move did not work.

The efforts of Dhote and Ingole were widely publicised by the media for a specific period. The result, however, was more dangerous. Commercial Sex Workers (CSWs) from distant places like Surat and Allahabad started pouring in with their families and pimps. They started hiring houses near ‘Ganga Jamuna’. The landlord was happy to earn higher rents. Those coming from other places called their profession a family business and earned higher returns. Many of them were college going girls.

Disturbed by the development Ram Ingole, who was called Rambhau by the CSWs and ‘Mama’ (Maternal Uncle) by their children, moved out of the area with the children. The CSWs were assured that their children will be taken care of by him and will be educated. Rambhau started admitting the students to schools. He gave them his name in the Father’s Name column, although Rambhau was not married.

Rambahu never stopped their mothers to meet their children. However, he faced serious issue of getting a house on rent. He would be thrown out as soon as the landlord come to know that the children are of CSWs. Media reports helped Rambhau to get support from some kind hearted people, who donated in cash and kindness. Initially, Ex-MP Datta Meghe was one of the major donor and continues to support him. Many others followed suit. Rambhau could construct a permanent house on a plot that he inherited from his father. The problem of frequently changing the house ended. The house was named ‘Vimalashram Gharkul’ in memory of his mother Vimal Ingole.

A generous donor from Gujarat, who read about Rambhau’s work donated five acres of land about 18 Km from Nagpur on Umrer Road. Rambhau started a residential school for children of migratory labour of a large number of stone quarries in the area. The school is managed by the children of CSWs, who grew in Vimalashram and got educated to different levels. Many of them became engineers, graduated in social work, diploma holders etc. Many girls got married and are living with their families.

RAMBHAU FACING HEALTH PROBLEMS

Rambhau strived to make the lives of the children of CSWs happy. He worked as a civil contractor, purchased tankers, and deployed for Indian Oil Corporation and water tankers from Nagpur Municipal Corporation. Maybe growing stress resulted in the development of diabetes, which gradually affected his heart.

Rambhau had to undergo a bypass surgery with four blockages in his cardiac blood vessels. The surgery was performed about two months back. His movements are now restricted. The mission with which he continued to work for over three decades may continue with the grown-up children or may suffer a major setback.

The situation is difficult to explain and very difficult to anticipate the future of the mission which Rambhau Ingole started for a section of the society, which was and is living with a social stigma. Despite agreeing on several issues, the society is not ready to accept them.

…………………………………………………………………../Indrani