Recognising the Landscape of Prostitution in India

Project B , RMIT University

Recognising the Landscape of Prostitution in India

A design strategy to uplift the social living conditions of the people living in the Red Light Districts

Michelle Thomas Zacharias s3692543

recognize -acknowledge the existence, validity, or legality of.

(Definition taken from Oxford Dictionary)

Abstract The sex industry has always been a part of the city,said to be the oldest profession in the world (The World’s Oldest Profession: Evolutionary Insights into Prostitution, Catherine Salmon). However, the urban areas that cater for prostitution are often considered illegitimate parts of the city. In countries like India, where sex itself is a taboo , the stigma associated with this profession is prolific.The negative effects of stigmatization not only extends to the lives of the people associated with the sex industry but also affects the place they occupy. As the main city turns its back on locations of sex work-also known as Red Light Districts , both the place and the people lack a sense of place , idenity ,community and value in the city fabric.

Currently, there are non-government organisations(NGO) working with and within these communities in red light districts to help promoting a sense of belonging and place among them. Therefore , partnering with the NGO organising activities in the red light districts for the upliftment of the community of sex workers there, landscape architecture may have the potential to build on the existing positive system,developing it further through the provision of a public realm which empowers the community of sex workers by giving them a sense of recognition, identity, place and community with opportunities to explore themselves which could potentially lead to their social upliftment.

This will be done by exploring and pitching the convivial tools of Landscape Architecture like mapping, Urban Acupuncture, resource building and community participation through the Theory of Urban Weave.Considering G.B.Road-the RLD of New Delhi-India as the site of study and partnering with an existing NGO there (with a complete understanding of their activities) , these tools will be implemented in 4 different phases of interventions across the site .At the end of each phase , the potential conclusion projected as a result of these tools will be assessed which will enable anticipating the further moves . The outcome of this project will be a design process for social upliftment of the sex workers , where the role of the landscape architect lies in acting as the facilitator of social innovation in the distribution of design skills and thinking.

In doing so , this will enable a wider and more significant platform to the NGO , enabling a possibility to create a public realm which empowers the community of sex workers by giving them a sense of recognition, identity, place and community with opportunities to explore themselves.

Table of Contents 01

Background Research - History + Present - Problems +Issues

- Interviews+Journal Studies - Analysis of Research

02 G.B.Road as the site of study - Introduction - Understanding the Context - Macro Context - Micro Context - Detailed Site Analysis - Zoning - Movement - Activities - The NGO Initiative - Current initiatives on site - Risks and Challenges at present for the NGO on G.B.Road - Hierarchy of Social Needs according to the NGO

03 L.A. x NGO - Understanding the positive system that exists - Why and how can Landscape Architecture help?

- Project Goals Recognising the Landscape of Prostitution in India

- Working for the didis through Urban Weave- xhrI bunayI - Introducing the concept of Urban Weave - Precedent Study - Conclusions Drawn - The Tools-Convivial Tools

04 The Design Strategy - The 4 Phases - The Aims of a Landscape Architect - The Phases - Phase 1- Identify the Addresses - Phase 2-Gather and Activate - Phase 3-Resource and Production - Phase 4-Towards Learning and Exploring

05 The Conclusion

THROUGH BANO'S STORY...

Let me introduce to you , Bano , a frail looking ,dark skinned 39 year old woman who dresses up as modestly as any other Indian woman belonging to a respectable family. She migrated from a very remote village in Bihar to the big metropolitan city of New Delhi in search of better opportunities that could help her earn a decent living. She is not educated beyond grade 5.Coming to Delhi; she became a sex worker and now lives in G.B.Road, continuing in the same profession. She doesn’t regret the decision she made then. However, now as she stares down through the grilled windows of her brothel, aware of the naughty stares she is getting back, she cannot help but still wonder about the various alternative opportunities that lies for her, about the options that could be explored, a platform that could help her know her options; only if she had the skills or the resources to do the same.

01

- Background Research

01 | Background Research

IN THE WORLD AT PRESENT

Prostitution illegal Prostitution legal but organised activities such as brothels and pimping illegal Prostitution legal

No Data

Sex industry has always been part of the city and human history albeit its own distinct flavour and special character. It is a profession that will always be continually practiced even in the future in specified areas of the city.

Prostitution and the Red Light Districts have been involved in a constant battle between legalisation and illegalisation because of which the status of this profession, the areas associated with it and their conditions-people and place continues to have a very poor status and reputation in the cities.

There are approximately 40-42 million prostitutes in the world

mAP SHOWING THE LEGAL STATUS OF PROSTITUTION ACROSS THE WORLD Image Courtesy : Red Light City , Tsaiher Chen

01 | Background Research

THE LARGEST RED LIGHT DISTRICTS IN INDIA : (In terms of density)

5.G.B.ROAD, NEW DELHI -77 BROTHELS , 4000 SEX WORKERS

IN INDIA IN THE PAST A tawaif or a prostitute used to be a highly sophisticated courtesan who served the nobility of India. The tawaifs excelled in and contributed to music, dance (mujra), theatre, and the Urdu literary tradition and were considered an authority on etiquette.However , history claims that with the coming of the Mughal rule ,their profession flourished but the status of their profession declined.Tawaifs were largely a North Indian institution central to Mughal court culture from the 16th century onwards .

4.Meergunj, Allahabad -NO DATA

During the period of British rule in India by the British East India Company in the late 18th and early 19th centuries and during the subsequent British Raj, the British military established and maintained brothels for its troops across India.

Women and girls were recruited from poor rural Indian families and paid directly by the military.

The red-light districts of cities such as Mumbai developed at this time.

Since then , there hasn't been any rise in the status of prostitution in India , because of which the sex workers of the Red Light Districts are restricted to very social living conditions and in a society like India , this stigmatization is rather really high.

2.Kamathipura, Mumbai - 500 SEX WORKERS

1. Sonagachi, Kolkata SEVERAL HUNDRED BROTHELS ,10000 SEX WORKERS

3.Budhwar Peth, Pune - 700 BROTHELS ,5000 SEX WORKERS

IN INDIA AT PRESENT > 660000 PROSTITUTES IN INDIA (As per UNAIDS 2016) > The number of prostitutes in India has risen by 50% in less than a decade. > 73% OF THE PROSTITUTES IN INDIA LIVE IN THE CITIES

01 | Background Research

Problems THAT COME ALONG WITH PROSTITUTION AND RED LIGHT DISTRICTS \\ From Journals and documentaries

ISSUES - STIGMATIZATION - EXTREMELY POOR CONNECTIONS TO THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBOURHOOD - CONTINUED VIOLENCE AGAINST SEX WORKERS

- LACK OF SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR SEX WORKERS' & THEIR KIDS

- POOR HEALTH CONDITIONS

- ILLITERACY/UNEDUCATED

- DENIAL OF SOCIAL ENTITLEMENTS

FACTS IN KAMATHIPURA, MUMBAI, 5% OF THE SEX WORKERS ARE HIV/ AIDS POSITIVE (The Times of India )

IN SONAGACHI, KOLKATA , 40% CLIENTS ARE DRUG USERS AND MOSTLY ABUSE THESE SEX WORKERS (Vice City :A look inside Asia's Largest Red Light District )

IN G.B. ROAD ,DELHI, 70% OF THE STREET FACADE IS COVERED BY JUST HEAVILY GRILLED WINDOWS WHICH RESTRICT EXPOSURE (India Today )

IN G.B.ROA, DELHI , 90% OF THE SEX WORKERS ARE ILLITERATE (India Today )

- NO SOCIAL WELL BEING / IDENTITY

\\ from around red light districts in india

01 | Background Research

TYPICAL SPATIAL CONFIGURATIONS WITHIN RED LIGHT DISTRICTS

CLOSE TO CBD

a.DISTRIBUTED AND CONCEALED WITHIN BROTHELS Prostitution related businesses are disperesed across the urban fabric.In most cases ,there are parameters for minimum distances so that a brothel cannot be located in or immediately adjacent to a residential zone or school.

Eg: Sydney

b.SCATTERED AND CONCEALED WITHIN BUILDINGS Mostly based on one woman brothels,sex work in this category is conducted within an individual room which can be located anywhere in a building or the building itself can be located anywhere in the city with opportunities for sexual services.

Eg: UK and Hong Kong

c.DISGUISED BUT CLOSE TO STREET LEVEL This category of sex related workplace is usually illegal and undercover,disguised as another kind of venue such as a massage parlour or hair dresser.

Eg: East Asia and European Cities

DEPRIVED AREAS WHERE CRIME RATES ARE VERY HIGH LOW LAND VALUE

NEAR TRANSPORT HUB ATTRACTS A LOT OF CLIENTELE

LOCATION OF SUCH AREAS

d.STAGGERED BUT WITH CLOSE PROXIMITY After an initial encounter on the street,a bar,or in a private pub,the service is offered somewhere else -in a car ,a hotel or a rented room.This type of sex work exists in almost every city in the world.

e.CLUSTERED WITH STREET WINDOWS In several cities , windows where sex workers expose themselves to potential clients are clustered and form linear structures along streets and alleys or concentrations within a large building. It mostly happens where sex work is legal.

Eg: Amsterdam , Antwerp

Red-light activities therefore often settle in so called “zones in transition” areas close to the city’s central business district that are known to be poor, dangerous and deprived but also areas of sometimes rapid change in landuse, occupancy and real estate value.

01 | Background Research

AN ANALYSIS OF ALL THIS RESEARCH...

IN CONVERSATION WITH XYZ

AS THE NO. OF PROSTITUTES INCREASE IN THE CITIES

DENSITY WITHIN RED LIGHT DISTRICTS INCREASE

LIVING AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS CONTINUE TO DETERIORATE

SUCH AREAS CONTINUE TO BE DERELICT AND DELIENATED FROM THE REST OF THE CITY

Interview taken by Hina Sharma -

EXAMPLE:

Architecture for Reserved Communities RE-DEVELOPING AND GIVING SOCIAL STATUS TO THE PEOPLE OF RED LIGHT DISTRICT

Main points highlighted from a conversation/interview of 5 sex workers at G.B.Road,New Delhi , India

G.B.ROAD - RED LIGHT DISTRICT OF DELHI - THE CAPITAL CITY , INDIA 77 Brothels , 4000 Sex workers , 1500 children LAHORI GATE FARASH KHANA

LEGEND

NAYA BANS

G.B. ROAD

LACK OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION AND LACK OF AWARENESS OF OPPORTUNITIES

FEEL UNSAFE WITHIN THE PREMISES AND IGNORED UPON BY THE SOCIETY

LACK OF AWARENESS OF HEALTH AND WELL BEING; ACCEPTED FATE AND REALITY

IMPORTANT LANDMARKS BROTHELS WITH WINDOW OPENINGS NEW DELHI RAILWAY STATION

LACK OF IDENITY, NO SENSE OF COMMUNITY , NO SELF-RESPECT

LACK OF OPEN GREEN SPACES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO SOCIALISE

SIRKIWALAN

OLD DELHI

LAL KUAN BAZAR

G.B.ROAD

SHAHGANJ

GHAZIAUDDIN MOSQUE

AJMERI GATE

G.B. Road Delhi encapsulates all the observations and analysis concluded from the research and showcases the characteristics of a typical Red Light District. Being one of the most densely populated RLD in India , necessary actions are to be proposed to ensure a better social environment and well being for the sex workers here.

FORCED TO BE RESTRICTED AND CONSIDERED OF NO VALUE

02

- G.B.Road -The Site of Study

02 | Site Study

G.B.ROAD AT A MACRO GLANCE

CHAWRI BAZAAR

The history of G.B. Road can be dated back to Mughal era. It is said that there were five red light areas in Delhi at that time. Then came the British Raj, when a British collector consolidated all the five kothas in one area on this road.

FASIL ROAD

The road is famous as a market for machinery, automobile parts, hardware and tools and is the largest market for these items in the National Capital Region.

G.B.Road is located in Central Delhi , Delhi , the capital city of India. It is predominantly occupied by hardware and machinery stores on the ground floor and brothels on the 2nd and 3rd stories . G.B.Road marks the boundary between Old and New Delhi and it, through many secondary roads connects to prominent locations like the New Delhi Railway station , Chawri Bazaar , Chandni Chowk etc.

NEW DELHI RAILWAY STATION

G.B.ROAD INDIA

02 | Site Study

G.B.ROAD AT A MICRO GLANCE 1.

The road is famous as a market for machinery, automobile parts, hardware and tools and is the largest market for these items in the National Capital Region.

2.

G.B.Road witnesses a lot of organic and impromptu activities on it being the only stretch of open space (though with vehicular traffic ) available for people to socialise and gather.

3.

There are gullys that connect G.B.Road with Fasil Road and this alleyway /gully holds a place for different kind of vendors on it.

4.

SEX WORK COMMERCIAL NGO SEX WORK CLOCK NGO CLOCK

POLICE STATION SCHOOL TEMPLE ENTRANCES TO LANEWAYS

Fasil Road , which is a secondary street on th rear side of the brothels and shops and connects to G.B.Road witnesses very little activity on it as it hardly has any active frontages even though there are accesses of the brothel buildings into this space.

02 | Site Study

SECTION 1

Residential Zone Roads 1.

2.

High

3.

Zones with Active Sex work

Low

Railway Complex Railway Complex

Graffitti on wall done by NGO

Parked Cycle Rickshaw pullers

Vehicular Traffic

Parked Cycle Rickshaw pullers Hawkers

1 Floor: Hardware Stores and shops 2 & 3 Floor: Brothels

Fasil Road

SECTION 2

Railway Complex

Parked Cycle Rickshaw pullers

Vehicular Traffic

SECTION 3

Hawkers under an old Banyan tree

Temple

Police Station

Fasil Road

01 01 03 03 02 02

ZONING ALONG G.B.ROAD G.B.Road is lined with brothels . However , the number of brothels along the the road varies as shown.

The built environment along the G.B.Road changes as one walks along it . The functions inside these spaces affect what happens on the road. The sections depict the same.

Hardware Stores and shops

Parked Cycle Rickshaw pullers

Vehicular Traffic

Parked Cycle Rickshaw pullers

1 Floor: Hardware Stores and shops 2 & 3 Floor: Storage / Manufacturing

Fasil Road

02 | Site Study

FASIL ROAD

Boundary Wall 2 Wheeler traffic 2 Wheeler traffic Pedestrian Movement Existing Vendors

KEY PLAN

MOVEMENT ANALYSIS

1.

Police Station Access from G.B.Road Gully entrances from Old Delhi Commercial activities NGO Activities

1. G.B.Road witnesses pedestrian as well as vehicular movement on it.Movement through Fasil Road is mostly pedestrian and so is through the connections that leads one to the markets in Old Delhi.

Commercial activities Sex work

2. A normal day on G.B.Road looks like any other street in Old Delhi , with most people coming in to do business with the hardware stores in the area.

G.B.Road witnesses a lot of organic and impromptu activities on it being the only stretch of open space available for people to socialise and gather. During this time , sex work activities are limited.

3. At night , the district witnesses major footfall only from clients for sex work.

The area remains dark and dingy with no street lights functioning or hardly any security deployed.

DAYTIME ANALYSIS OF G.B.ROAD

2.

A SCENE

Sushma , a sex worker wants to buy some cold drink and chips as she is very fond of it ; this is how she goes about it...

1.

3.

1.

Sex work activities 2 Wheeler Traffic Pedestrian Movement

NIGHT TIME ANALYSIS OF G.B.ROAD

A zoomed in analysis of traffic movement and activity distribution to undertsand the shift in the character of the place across Night and Day is as follows :

2.

3.

Sushma assesses things on G.B.Road

Sushma uses the 2. dark ,narrow stairs to access Fasil Road 3. This is Sushma on Fasil Road , out to buy her favourite chips and cold drink.

ANALYSIS OF FASIL ROAD Fasil Road , which is a secondary street on the rear side of the brothels and shops which connects to G.B.Road witnesses very little activity on it as it hardly has any active frontages even though there are accesses of the brothel buildings into this space.

Many at times , as per the NGO , the sex workers feel more comfortable using the Fasil Road as it turns less eyes on them as compared to G.B.Road and thus , it is a sufficiently used road by them for their once in a while errands in the streets.

02 | Site Study

CALLING THEM DIDIS !

THE NGO INITIATIVE - A RESPONSE

When actually they are like any other Indian woman who likes to deck up and be looked upto like a woman of an every day Indian Society. Calling them "Didis " is a way of acknowledging that ! This is a big recognition given to the sex workers by the NGO.

According to the NGO , often these women associated with sex work are illustrated or perceived to be a of particular appearance/image the moment the term "sex workers" / " Prostitutes" gets attached to them.Therefore ,the society does not care to respect them or consider them as a woman of the Indian Society.

A girl / woman is addressed as a didi in the Indian culture when they are elder or when you want to pay respect to her or both.

CURRENT INITIATIVES Converting G.B.Road into Pyar ka mOhLla (Colony of Love) The NGO claims to convert G.B.Road into the "Colony of Love" by undertaking the following activities on site for the sex workers to build their social skills:

A non-governmental organization (NGO) is any non-profit, voluntary citizens' group which is organized on a local, national or international level. Task-oriented and driven by people with a common interest, NGOs perform a variety of service and humanitarian functions, bring citizen concerns to Governments, advocate and monitor policies and encourage political particpation through provision of information. Some are organized around specific issues, such as human rights, environment or health. They provide analysis and expertise, serve as early warning mechanisms and help monitor and implement international agreements.

Bridge School The NGO runs the school in a small room in one of the brothels for the kids of the Didis.

Skill Development There are a no. of skill development programmes conducted throughout the year like painting workshops , pottery classes etc.

Maitri Meals A special initiative by the NGO , where the Didis are encouraged to be entrepreneurs;they cook meals and provide lunch services.

Festivals The NGO makes sure that all festivals are celebrated by the Didis at G.B.Road , be it Diwali , Holi , Independence day etc.

Workshops + Awareness Programmes

Entertainment Entertainment programmes in the form of film screening and theatre are also conducted by the NGO which not only create awareness among the Didis but also gives them a dose of fun!

Definition from http://www.ngo.org

THE NGO STORY Started in 2013 , the NGO began the transformation process with a four pronged approach called RISE (Rights, Integration, Skills, and Education) in an effort to help out the sex workers working in the Red Light District. With time, as the organization matured, the NGO discovered a vision cycle comprising four phases; Field Research and Relationship Building to strengthen the roots on GB Road, establishing the Bridge school at GB Road to bridge the gap to freedom, Empower Projects to enable the women and children to lead a powerful life of their own choice, and finally, Freedom from forced ‘sex work’.

There are a lot of awareness programmes conducted by the NGO in collaboration with other organisation to promote the knowledge of health , safety and sexual hygiene among Didis.

CHALLENGES AND RISKS AT PRESENT FOR THE NGO ON G.B.ROAD Practicing activities for the upliftment of a stereotyped community comes in with a lot of challenges and risks (not only from the Didis , but general public as well) for the NGO. However , the NGO highlight the main challenges and risks of reaching out to the Didis as follows :

ACCORDING TO THE NGO...

THE HIERARCHY OF SOCIAL NEEDS THAT CAN CONTRIBUTE TO A BETTER SOCIAL LIFE AMONG THE SEX WORKERS AS PER SURVEYS CONDUCTED BY THEM AMONGST THE SEX WORKERS

CHALLENGES

EDUCATION >> LACK OF AWARENESS Most activities are limited inside brothels

Lack of Social Space>>

+ >>LACK OF MOTIVATION TO COME OUT AMONG THE Didis

LACK OF AWARENESS>>

LACK OF MOTIVATION TO COME OUT AMONG THE DIDIS>>

>>LIMITED OUTREACH TO THE DIDIS AND THEIR KIDS , PROCESS EXTREMELY SLOW

EXPOSING THE didis

STEREOTYPING THE COMMUNITY OF didiS FURTHER

HOME- KIDS-COMMUNITY- WELL- BEING Many Didis lack a sense of home.They consider their stay as workplaces with no sense of community or belonging.Also,Kids for the Didis are another top priority as most of them do not want their kids to go through the same path as their own. Being able to provide decent services that contribute to building a community that ensures a decent upbringing of a kid enables a boost to the Didis.

+

AWARENESS OF THE BASICS

+

SOCIAL SPACE

RISKS

SECURITY

Education is key as literacy and education can impart the skills to explore alternative options in life and also develope intellectual skills which can not only develope their own social thinking and understanding of themselves , but can also share it with their kids. Education can also help them build an identity for themselves. Education can lay the foundation and will power to establish all the other needs mentioned below.

Many of the women lack basic awareness .Be it awareness about basic health and safe sex or even opportunities and skill they could be holding.

Providing them with an understanding of the same willl itself instill a sense of being valued and taken care of in the society.

The need for a social space to congregate is a basic human necessity because in order to have a sense of community and the place they occupy , to have a platform to share stories/activities and inculcate a culture is a first step towards a good social living. A social space can instill not only a sense of ownership but can also help acquire a spatial understanding of the urban setting they occupy.

03

L.A X N.G.O

03 | LA X NGO

UNDERSTANDING THE POSITIVE SYSTEM THAT EXISTS

WHY AND HOW CAN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE HELP ?

Thus , the understanding of the positive system gives rise to the following

PROJECT GOALS

AIM

L.A.

Inspite of the many challenges , problems and risks that exists in red light districts , there are certain benefits and opportunities that exists where a landscape architect can tap into and understand the existence of a positive system in the area.

BENEFITS & OPPORTUNITIES There is a positive system that exists in such areas.

There are many NGOs in India which work towards the upliftment of this group of people and hold various programmes and activities for these people all year long. But at the moment , due to lack of platforms and space restrictions , these activities are conducted inside the brothels.

TO IMPROVE THE SOCIAL LIVING CONDITIONS AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR UPLIFTMENT OF THE PEOPLE LIVING IN THE RED LIGHT DISTRICTS.

THE PROJECT Convert G.B. Road into a public realm which empowers the community of sex workers,giving them a sense of recognition , identity , place and community with opportunities to explore themselves

MY ROLE AS A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT My role as a landscape architect lies in facilitating social innovation in the distribution of spatial design skills and thinking which can help to harness the existing positive system ; in this case for eg: The NGO activities.

03 | LA X NGO

WORKING WITH THE DIDIS THROUGH URBAN WEAVExhrI bunayI

Convivial : -(of an atmosphere or event) friendly, lively, and enjoyable.

The project goals and aim comes in line with the Theory of Urban Weaving given by Jeremy Till which is explained as follows :

URBAN WEAVING/ xhrI bunayI Jeremy Till describes the concept of Urban weaving as an act of working the warp and weft so that the whole is much greater than the sum of the parts.

The warp is the fabric of the city as found, the weft is made up of the catalytic acts that run through and negotiate with the given. The essence of urban weaving: the actuality of the warp with the possibility of the weft, and the designer acting as the cocatalyst for the release of the possibility.

All of these actions are necessarily adaptive and negotiating to what is there already.

These actions/tools for conviviality enable “autonomous and creative intercourse among persons, and the intercourse of persons with their environment” in contrast to “the conditioned response of persons to the demands made on them by others”.

Convivial tools are those that “give each person who uses them the greatest opportunity to enrich the environment with the fruits of his or her vision.

INDIA AND URBAN WEAVING The concept of inducing small subtle bottom up approaches/catalytic actions (actions of urban weave) is relatively new in the Indian Context and one will not find many examples of the same in city planning , urban design or landscape architecture.

However, based on observations , most activities that occur in the public spaces in the Indian Context are mostly organic and impromptu as well as adapting and negotiating (exactly what the actions of urban weave are) and such small activities tend to create a larger influence on how the community uses and deals with the place.

And thus , based on these observations , I project that through my application of small interventions with the help of Urban Weave will have the same effect.

AS PER , Lessons LearnT From The Sonagachi Project In Kolkata, India by who ON Operationalizing An Effective Community Development Intervention for Female Sex Work:

03 | LA X NGO

PRECEDENT STUDY - LET'S LOOK AT SOME EXAMPLES !

These precedent studies elucidate a clear example of how the various positives of the areas and marginalised groups can be tapped into from a Landscape Architect's /City Planner /Urban Designer's point of view and faciliate social innovation by the distribution of spatial design skills and thinking:

SKIPPER'S QUARTER

KHAYELITSHA

ANTWERP

CAPETOWN

> The Skipper's Quarter which is RLD of Antwerp was refurbished with some actions and tools that resulted in a better working and living environment for the sex workers in the area.

> Khayelitsha is town in Cape Town which once upon a time used to be known for very high crime rates .

As a result ,the neighbourhood became more orderly and clean with reduced crime rates.It also estalished a sense of safety , community and owneship among the sex workers.

However , with the urban designers and planners collaborating and forming a Violence Prevention through Urban Upgrading , the crime rate in the area is only 30% now with the community more aware about their surroundings and potentials.

CONVIVIAL TOOLS

Pedestrain friendly walkways with no vehicular entry

Uniform paving provided Trees with very low diameter

CONVIVIAL TOOLS

Activitating street edges for the community

Increasing the intraction of Active Frontages with streets

AN ATLAS OF RADICAL CARTOGRAPHY JAI SEN'S UNNAYAN (MAPPING) An Atlas of Radical Cartography is a series of maps that acts as a primer on issues which the maps and essays address: identity ,landuse ,imprisonment ,energy,migration.

It explains the power of mapping and how mapping as a tool and an action can be used to put forward a statement.

APPROACH

TAPIS ROUGE PUBLIC SPACE, EVA STUDIO, HAITI Tapis Rouge is one of several public spaces in Carrefour-Feuilles, Haiti, which aims to construct multifunctional spaces that facilitate and promote social cohesion through an inclusive approach.

CONVIVIAL TOOLS

An open-air amphitheatre, intended for community gathering

Each Dwelling in the slum area was mapped and later given an address.

RESULT

Spaces to congregate and socialise

Street Lighting made part of the building design

Community facilities like health centres,urinals and community centre with active frontages

Inducing activities into isolated public spaces Visual Connections and readability of spaces

Helped people make themselves visible and thereby gain some degree of control and power to their lives ,celebrate their existence and contributions to the world around them and also challenge the power over of those who made them invisible.

The designs emerged from one of the community engagement workshops, in which artists discussed the value of art with people from the neighbourhood. The children from the area, their parents and artists from Le Centre d’art and French artist Bault worked together on the final piece, which reflects Haiti’s rich painting tradition.

03 | LA X NGO

CONCLUSIONS DRAWN FROM THE PRECEDENTS > A DESIGN INTERVENTION PROCESS > BOTTOM UP APPROACH

>

IMPLEMENTATION

>

GOALS

ISSUES

> CATALYTIC ACTIONS / CONVIVIAL TOOLS URBAN ACUPUNCTURE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

COLLABORATING WITH COMMUNITY HELP GROUPS

RESOURCE BUILDING

Worked with the sex workers' communities and agencies like NGOs

The revenue generated from the sales of water will be reinvested into maintaining the public space.

Recognising the different realities and sensitivities,challenges and needs of different user groups.

This public space aims to give transformative power to a local community

Organisation of VPUUViolence Prevention through Urban Upgrading

Responsive formulation of principles and tools to achieve small scale interventions of public spaces

VPUU worked with the community and help agencies to find hot spots of crime and find issues with the community

Mapping

It helped the community to locate basic services and rights which were previously violated and help the claim those back.

Helped the social class to gain a sense of place and the manner in which they contribute to tranforming the city

Made the unintended city/community visible

> OVERARCHING DESIGN PRINCIPLES 1.Territoriality / Owned Spaces 2. Conscious Zoning 3. Establishing Connectivity 4. Defined Movement and Access 5. Safety and Security > CONDUCTING THE PROCESS IN PHASES / MOVES WHERE THE SUM OF THE PARTS IS GREATER THAN THE WHOLE

03 | LA X NGO

THE CONVIVIAL TOOLS TO BE USED :

Social , Landscape and Urban

MAPPING Mapping as a tool can impart the sense of home and location among the community of Didis which also makes them aware of the presence of other Didis in the area and this could mark as the initiating step into building a strong sense of community and identity.

COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION The built envionment is formed by people who live in the area .If the Didis form a community and participate in the building process , they feel ownership , sense of community and pride senses.

Due to this , the area becomes well managed and maintained by the community.

URBAN ACUPUNCTURE Temporary use facilities, events and workshops can become the urban acupuncture elements ,stimulating and harnessing the neighbourhood.

These activities can engage people and activate vacant or less used sites as well as set conditions for further public realm development.

PUBLIC SPACE Community of Didis can be only established if there is a public space ,supporting different activities and uses.People need a place to gather ,interact and talk.Only then community members can start to improve their public realm.

TEMPORARY USE Temporary use urban interventions , such as mobile carts , allowing different activities can activate vacant or less used areas oon site and engage people as well as be an affordable way to supply essential amenities .

ECONOMY AND FINANCIAL CIRCLES Financial benefits to community members are one of the key elements leading to a desireable social growth of the community of Didis. They would be engaged to participate in thhe community activities if they see a financial benefit or prospects.

DIDIS' NEEDS Each community should have amenities supporting basic and additional Didis' needs.It is important to provide the basic needs to facilitate the upliftment of the Didis and contribute to their quality of life.

04

The Design Strategy

04 | xhrI bunayI - Design Strategy

THE 4 PHASES The distribution of spatial interventions , design skills and thinking will be carried out in 4 different phases . Each phase is dominated by a particular catalytic action that drives it to the intended result. Each phase adds on to the next and ultimately results in an incremental growth of the neighbourhood and community ultimately inching towards fulfilling the social needs of the Didis living on G.B.Road.

PHASE 1

IDENTIFY AND MARK Phase 1 is to identify , mark and provide a distinctive identity to the sex workers in terms of addresses through the process of mapping . This is proposed as an initiation step from where going further into the different phases , the sex workers could be identified from their addresses and the services and resources supplies could be planned accordingly.

PHASE 2

GATHER AND ACTIVATE Next , people in the neighbourhood have to form a strong community and to do that they need to gather together and start to interact .However , the didis would be more engaged to gather around a certain place which can offer a benefit of exchange .This facility thus is proposed to be accompanied with basic mobile structure which provides primary requirements for these women.

PHASE 3

RESOURCES AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT As people start to establish community bonds ,they can start to develope new skills and begin to participate in the existing skill and resource building activities of the NGO . The outcome of such activities would not only provide a positive exposure to the Didis but also could be invested in the ultimate social requirement of education and learning to get employment and financial benefits.

PHASE 4

LEARN AND EXPLORE During phase 3 , received financial benefit should be invested in establishing knowledge exchange - learning centres.Flexible mobile cabins and learning spaces can be introduced which can be used for formal and informal learning .Over the time , learning centres network will be developed and the sex workers community could gain education and working skills locally.

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AIM OF A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT To achieve aesthetic integration,red light districts are dealt with TOP DOWN GENTRIFICATION in City planning and Landscape Architecture which results in the displacement of people living and working there.

GLOBALLY, THE FOLLOWING RED LIGHT DISTRICTS HAVE FACED GENTRIFICATION : - AMSTERDAM

- TAIPEI

- MONTREAL

- HONG KONG

GENTRIFICATION CAUSES THE FOLLOWING ISSUES FOR THE DIDIS:

SPREAD OUT TO OTHER PLACES AND CAUSE SPRAWLS

VULNERABLE SEX INDUSTRY WORKERS AFFECTED THE MOST

CONVIVIAL TOOLS RESORT TO CRIMES AND OTHER DEMEANED SOURCES FOR INCOME

PHASE 1

PHASE 3

PHASE 2

PHASE 4

VE A E

AN

W

B

CONVIVIAL TOOLS

UR

DISPLACEMENT OF SEX WORKERS CHILDREN OF THE SEX WORKERS AFFECTED THE MOST

NO REHABILITATION PROVIDED

WHAT LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE IS CHALLENGING HERE....

WHAT LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE IS TRYING TO ACHIEVE...

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PHASE 1

IDENTIFY AND MARK ACTION INVOLVED - MAPPING Inspired by Jai Sen's "Mapping the Unintended City" published in An Atlas of Radical Cartography, here too mapping could be used as powerful tool to impart identity and better spatial and physical understanding of their home and city.

It could help the social class to gain a sense of place and the manner in which they contribute to transforming the city.

It could help people make themselves visible and thereby gain some degree of control and power too in their lives, celebrate their existence and contributions to the world around them and also challenge the power of those who made them unintended.

The idea is to provide unique addresses to the different brothels and impart a sense of place among the community of didis by being able to locate themselves distinctively on the map and being able to understand and identify with what surrounds them

MACRO LEVEL UNDERSTANDING OF BUILT ENVIRONMENT This mapping gives an overall idea of how the built environment is distributed (vertically and on ground ) w.r.t to macro context of G.B.Road

Mapping is not an end solution but the first step towards a process,an instrument to this work.

Based on these "powers of mapping" , there are 2 different mappings that have been created intending 2 outcomes. These maps highlight different aspects on site in relation to the addresses provided for the building numbers.

MAP 1

MAP 2

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MAP 1 - KNOWING AND LETTING KNOW THE DIDIS' HOME!

HOW TO MAP? STEP 1

Identify the shop addresses

STEP 2

- Mark clusters of addresses and divide the floors into A,B,C,D. - Colour code them for a quick visual understanding

STEP 3

Take photographs of the clusters and mark the addresses and floors on the same for layman understanding

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MAP 2 - KNOWING WHAT IS THERE AND CAN BE PROVIDED

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MAP 2 -

HOW TO MAP?

+

OVERLAY

SITE DOCUMENTATION

ESTABLISHED ADDRESSES

The second mapping showcasing with the activities and facilities/ services that they can avail with respect to these addresses and their distances.

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A SCENE FROM BANO'S LIFE - AT PHASE 1 Looking down at G.B.Road , Bano has been living in this area practicing her profession for the past 10 years.She hardly ever steps out.She neither has an address nor does she know the area/people she has been living in/ with for the past.

AT THE END OF THIS PHASE 1 It could help the Didis in social class to gain and develope a sense of place among them.It would also begin to transform the manner in which they contribute to transforming the city.

It could help Didis make themselves visible and thereby gain some degree of control and power too in their lives, celebrate their existence and contributions to the world around them and also challenge the power of those who made them unintended.

Mapping is not an end solution!But it is a first step towards the process,an instrument to this work where like in the uninetended city project,a 5 year plan was laid out as public intervention aimed at influencing the nature of planning.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE DIDIS?

Later , the NGO went from brothel to brothel , explaining the different Didis on how to read the map , their address which they could now call home , making them understand the power and knowledge they now hold.

The NGO in the area in collaboration with L.A. worked on mapping addresses and services for the Didis of the area

Bano heard and understood the maps carefully...

A SENSE OF PLACE AN ADDRESS - ESTABLISHED IDENTITY VISIBILITY ON CITY SCALE

OVERARCHING DESIGN PRINCIPLES ESTABLISHED: 1.Territoriality / Owned Spaces / Ownership

Bano now knows that she lives in 54 A which is an address she now uses for various purposes...Remembering the various actiivities she saw on the map , she looks out the window and seems to recognise and relate with her surroundings more.

PHASE 2

GATHER AND ACTIVATE ACTION INVOLVED - URBAN ACUPUNCTURE Urban acupuncture is an urban environmentalism theory which combines urban design with traditional Chinese medical theory of acupuncture.

Urban acupuncture produces small-scale but socially catalytic interventions into the urban fabric.

PURPOSE : To gather the community of Didis and activate points on site for their use Phase 2 includes 2 interventions : 1.Mobile Carts 2.Temporary open space for NGO activities that involves kids of the Didis .

A. MOBILE CARTS- AN OVERVIEW Once the addresses are established and their locations identified , the Ddis have to form a strong community and to do that ,they need to gather together and start to interact.

However , they would be more engaged to gather around a certain place which can offer a benefit for exchange.Didis are apparently very fond of cold drinks , candies and chips and often come down from their homes to buy themselves these small doses of joy.Thus , if there could be carts that exclusively provide these items for them , it would encourage them to come out even more.

This facility should be accompanied with basic mobile structures which provide a shelter and safety sense. Moreover these structures can travel around and activate vacant sites and engage more Didis .

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SENSE OF PLACE

AWARENESS OF COMMUNITY

SENSE OF BEING VALUED

Normally ,ice cream carts in India garner a lot of attention from people and is a very visible and relatable symbol for the people as these carts are associated to sell things that give people joy.

IMPLEMENTATION HOW TO POSITION THE CARTS?

Therefore,using this mobile cart as an element of Urban Acupuncture , one can garner and activate a community if the cart provides something in return to them.

Potential positions for the carts to be stationed have been identified through the mapping technique in Phase 1.

The no. of stops these carts would have depends on the zone they are plying on.

For eg :Route 1 has been assigned Zone 1 which has the maximum no. of brothels.Therefore, the no. of stops that these carts will have are also more. But as we move on to Zone 3 the no. of stops that these carts could have could decrease.

During the intial stages ,when the no. of carts are limited , the carts could move around in shifts from morning to evening (depending on how long the NGO works in a day).

With the help of signages painted across G.B.Road and Fasil road , the Didis can follow and reach out to these carts to fulfill their basic requirements.

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POTENTIAL POSITIONS OF CARTS AROUND THE NGO CLOCK POSITION OF CARTS DENSITY OF DIDIS

ROUTE 1-STOPS

SCHEMATIC SECTION-WHEN CARTS MOVE AROUND THE SITE The Circling of the mobile carts between G.B.Road+Fasil Road during different times of the day , creates an awareness about their presence and functions to the Didis

O3:30 A.M.-05:30 P.M.

When carts are parked/moving on G.B.Road

When carts moving on Fasil Road

A A EXISTING VENDORS CARTS RUN BY NGO

O1:30 A.M.-03:30 P.M.

SECTION A-ROUTE 1-WHEN CARTS ARE STATIONED AT THE GULLIES

11:30 A.M.-01:30 P.M.

9:30-11:30 A.M.

Graffitti on wall done by NGO

Parking Space for the carts

Vehicular Traffic on G.B.Road

Gully connecting G.B.Road and Fasil Road

Could motivate them Following the to come out , access signages marked these carts via Fasil on the road road

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SENSE OF OWNERSHIP AWARENESS OF COMMUNITY SENSE OF IDENTITY SENSE OF SECURITY

B.TEMPORARY OPEN SPACE- AN OVERVIEW While the carts are not in the parking space , this space can be used by the NGO for educating and conducting workshops with the kids of the Didis . (Prototype has been set close to the Police Station in Zone 1) This space is included for the NGO workers to not only involve kids but also include workshops that will require engagement of the parents which hence , will motivate the Didis to come out.

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HOW TO CREATE THIS SPACE?

SECTION -INTRACTION OF THE SPACE WITH THE SURROUNDINGS

IN A 12MX6M using the readily available resources , the space could be turned a small learning ground for a group of 50 kids at a time.

The usage of this space can also be in shifts. For eg :Children belonging to addresses 38-49 could take a shift from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM and so on.

Once these sessions are done , it will be time to park the carts , and the space could be continued to be used as a regular parking space or vendor space for the daily public(in a way starting to make a small space-a shared space between the Didis and the general public.

WHEN USED AS A STUDY GROUND

WHEN USED AS A PLAYGROUND

NATURAL SHADE OF THE TREES PAINT BUCKETS USED AS DESKS

Graffitti on wall Temporary workshop done by NGO Area/Study GroundPlayground for Didis Kids-9:30AM-3:30PM

THIS SPACE CAN ALSO BE USED AS A POP UP PLAYGORUND FOR KIDS

Parking

1 Floor: Hardware Stores 2 & 3 Floor: Brothels

This temporary open ground for NGO activities +carts will help create awareness about their programmes among the Didis(also seeing their kids participate and build relations) which could motivate them to come out with a sense of ownership and be participants in the same.

POTTED PLANTS TO MARK BOUNDARY

INSPIRING GRAFFITTI WALL 3 KIDS PER MAT

Vehicular Traffic on G.B.Road

PAINT BUCKETS

POTTED PLANTS TO MARK BOUNDARY

INTERACTION OF THE SPACE WITH THE SURROUNDINGS

USEFUL MATERIALS/ELEMENTS FROM SITE

MOTIVATIONAL GRAFFITTI WALL

Easy Availability +Economic Viability

POTTED PLANTS Easy portability PAINT BUCKET AS DESKS / SEATS FOR THE KIDS

VISUAL CONNECTIVITY WITH THE DIDIS HOMES

CART ROUTE 1

SYNTHETIC GRASS TURF

Versatile and easy maintenance

carpayI / MATS AS SEATING

Innovative yet relatable

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A SCENE FROM BANO'S LIFE - AT PHASE 2 A usual lookout the window , Bano notices an unusual sight.

She sees an orange -blue coloured "Pyaar ki Gaadi Cart for Didis" being moved on G.B.Road by an NGO member whom she is acquainted with.She also notices her colleagues' kids on the road.

AT THE END OF THIS PHASE 2 The end of Phase 2 would see a beginning of interaction of the Didis with the outside environment because of provision of means that motivates them to do the same.

A sense of territoriality is created especially through visual connection like when the carts are circling their houses or the Kids and the NGO people occupy the parking space for the carts.

In the backdrop of a boundary wall that says "Wish" , she sees kids being taught by the NGO in a nice green space used to park the carts.

She immediately recognises the location of the place because with the maps prepared by the NGO, presented and understood by her ,she understands the area well.

OVERARCHING DESIGN PRINCIPLES ESTABLISHED 1.Territoriality / Owned Spaces / Ownership 2.Visual and Physical Connectivity 3.Safety and Security

Later , 2 of her friemds who went downstairs via Fasil Road to buy Chips and cola ,told her that the cart sold paan , chips and cola specially for all the Didis.

"On Fasil Road were these signages called 'Direction to Pyaar ki Gaadi'",they said which lead them to it...it was parked in one of the gullies

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AN OVERVIEW As the Didis start to establish awareness of their own community and the place where they live , the NGO can now focus on further enhancing the activities (which they currently conduct on a small indoor scale) which enables the Didis to explore alternative means of earning their livelihoods.

PHASE 3

RESOURCES AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT ACTIONS INVOLVED : - URBAN ACUPUNCTURE

- COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

- RESOURCE BUILDING

PURPOSE : To inculcate the sense of community and exchange of skills and knowledge Phase 3 includes 2 actions : 1. Adding spaces to points on site activated in Phase 2 and using them to enhance the NGO activities 2. Including elements that enhances the Landscape of the area and encourages community participation

AT PRESENT : At present ,most of the activities that are conducted by the NGO take place indoors in limited spaces as a result of which the Didis involved in these activities get only a limited exposure and the NGO also feel limited to reach out to a wider audience of Didis.

IMPLEMENTATION Phase 3 can be built over the results and spaces achieved in Phase 2.

The exchange of knowledge of resources and skills can now take place on the spaces activated in Phase 2.These spaces could now have a permanent character with more established elements.

Provisions for establishing spaces for such an exchange could be done collaborating with the community of Didis and installing elements that would facilitate these activities.

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A. PERMANENT SPACES- FOOD CARTS+HANG OUT SPOTS SENSE OF OWNERSHIP SENSE OF COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

SENSE OF IDENTITY

SENSE OF SECURITY DEVELOPE SOCIAL SKILLS FOR INTERACTION

PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF SKILLS

With the carts being parked in the gullies that lead one to the Fasil road in Phase 1, they have a tendency to get popular and being more approached by the Didis.

Thus , this idea of carts could further be escalated where the carts could permanently be stationed in these gullies and where the project "Maitri Meals" of the NGO can be implemented on an outdoor scale in which the Didis can run the food cart themselves and earn as well.

As a result of Phase 2 and the food carts here , Fasil Road will witness more footfall from the Didis.

The area in close proximity to these carts on Fasil road can further be developed into a hanging out place for the Didis by the NGO by collaborating with them to define and enable them to develope the place for themselves.

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SECTION -INTRACTION OF THE SPACES WITH THE SURROUNDINGS INTERACTIVE ELEMENTS LIKE SWINGS COULD BE USED TO MOTIVATE KIDS AND THE DIDIS ALIKE TO USE THE SPACE

3.5M WIDE FASIL ROAD FOOD CARTS RUN BY DIDIS AS PART OF MAITRI MEALS

THE POTTED PLANTS AND THE GARDENS PLANTS GROWN COULD BE SOLD AND CAN ACT AS AN ALTERNATIVE SOURCE OF INCOME FRUIT CRATES COULD BE USED TO CHAIR BOMB THE AREA AND BE USED AS SEATING

TYRES COULD BE USED AS TABLES AND SEATING ELEMENTS

5M WIDE GULLY CONNECTING GB ROAD AND FASIL ROAD

Graffitti on wall done

by NGO and Didis

POTTED PLANTS COULD BE ELEMENTS THAT COULD BE MAINTAINED

BY THE DIDIS THE ROAD COULD BE PAINTED/DIFFERENT PAVING COULD BE LAID IN COLLABORATION WITH THE SEX WORKERS TO MARK THEIR ACCESSIBILITY

INTERACTION OF THE SPACE WITH THE SURROUNDINGS

Temporary workshop Area/ Study Ground-Playground for Kids+Didis9:30AM-3:30PM

Vehicular Traffic on G.B.Road

Hangout Zone for Didis Food Carts+ on Fasil Road Pyar kI ga@I

Dining Seats

These spatial developments will not only enhance the NGO activities but also make the area socially more inviting for the Didis to come out and explore with a sense of territoriality , safety and community

USEFUL MATERIALS/ELEMENTS FROM SITE

KEY PLAN

MOBILE CARTS USED AS FOOD CARTS CARTS FROM PHASE 2

POTTED PLANTS

FOOD CARTS 5

TYRES USED AS SEATING ELEMENTS

1 4

Versatile and easy maintenance

7

1

3

Easy portability

6

5

2

Easy Availability +Economic Viability

LEGEND 1 Hardware Shops 2 Existing Vendor 3 Walkway 4 Dining Seats 5 Food Carts+Carts(Phase 2) 6 Garden Strip 7 Seating Area 8 Play Equipment

Movement of Didis Movement of public

8

CHAIR BOMBING Fruit Crates used as seating spaces with potted plants

Innovative+ reusable yet relatable

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B. TEMPORARY OPEN SPACES-MULTIPLICATION IN NUMBER AND USES

PROTOTYPE A WHEN USED AS A STUDY GROUND

PROTOTYPE B WHEN USED AS A STUDY GROUND

PROTOTYPE C WHEN USED AS A GALLERY SEATING

NGO ACTIVITIES In the backdrop of a boundary wall that says "Wish" , she sees kids being taught by the NGO in a nice green space used to park the carts

3 types spatial designs

WALL PAINTING CAN BE INCLUDED AS AN ACTIVITY FOR SKILL DEVELOPMENT

POLES WITH HOOKS TO INCORPORATE ROOFING OR LIGHTING AS PER REQUIREMNT STEPPED SPACE FOR LEARNING AND UNDERSTANDING

PAVED AREA FOR GATHERING AND ASSEMBLY WITHOUT DIRECTLY STEPPING ONTO TE ROAD

PAVED AREA FOR GATHERING AND ASSEMBLY WITHOUT DIRECTLY STEPPING ONTO THE ROAD

Meanwhile ,taking up the partial pocket parking areas (Like in Phase 2) for specific time periods of the day as temporary open spaces for workshops by the NGO can still continue to take place .

Based on accessibility analysed in Phase 1 through mapping and understanding the points activated on site in Phase 2 , the temporary spaces could be multiplied in numbers on site.

These spaces now would not only be limited to hold programmes that only involve kids but the Didis as well.Understanding all the activities that the NGO conducts , gallery like spaces with lighting and other amenities could be introduced as one of the prototype temporary spaces.

Continue to occupy parking spaces on site

Will function as per the NGO Clock

Spatial conditions to be followed as in PHASE 2

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A SCENE FROM BANO'S LIFE - AT PHASE 3

Bano is now very acquainted with Fasil Road.She has some everyday faces she meets.She now meets her friends running Maitri Meals and also their regular customers

AT THE END OF PHASE 3 The end of Phase 3 will see a better platform for all the NGO activities and a wider access to the community of Didis (also vice versa) .

At this point ,due to the spaces provided ,the sex workers have a better understanding of their own community and surroundings. They also get the opportunity now to explore their skills.

Therefore , due to the network of activated spaces , the area with more sense of ownership of place.

Bano now feels very safe and welcomed on Fasil road! The revamp of the street to which even she contributed has turned out well.She now even has learnt some gardening skills

OVERARCHING DESIGN PRINCIPLES ESTABLISHED :1.Territoriality / Owned Spaces / Ownership 2.Visual and physical connectivity 3.Safety and Security 4.Conscious Zoning 5.Defined Movement and Access

She is now aware that there are multiple nice green spaces operated by the NGO which conducts activities for people like her.This makes visit these spaces on G.B.Road as well.

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PHASE 4

TOWARDS LEARNING AND EXPLORING ACTIONS INVOLVED : - COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION - PITCHING TO SECONDARY STAKEHOLDERS PURPOSE : To enhance resources that could facilitate learning and education - the ultimate resource to ensure social upliftment Phase 4 includes 2 actions : 1. Maintaining the system established through Phases 1 , 2 and 3 and making it visible and prominent.

2.Channelising the positive results obtained from the booming interventions of Phases 1 , 2 and 3 into developing an opportunity to learn for the Didis

AN OVERVIEW The activities of the NGO are booming now in the area.Everyday there is a new activity occurriing that provides opportunities for the sex workers to hone their social skills as well develope some new ones.

This establishes a positive system in the area and many of the activities also have the potential to generate a certain revenue.As the area starts to garner more footfall because of this positive introduction of convivial tools , the financial inflow should be used to eventually achieving ultimate goal in the social hierarchy of needs and that is Education according to the NGO. However , these activities and the spaces need to be maintained and thus channelising these positive inputs into the fabric of G.B.Road and considering that because of this ,the overall footfall of G.B.Road is going to increase indicates that the project could be pitched to the secondary stakeholders as well.

EDUCATION

COMMUNITY-HOME-KIDS

AWARENESS OF OPTIONS

Social Space

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BY THE END OF PHASE 1, 2 AND 3 , A SYSTEM IS ESTABLISHED - NETWORK OF SPACES WITH CONVIVIAL TOOLS CREATED LOCAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

Mobile Libraries and Learning cabins

LOCAL BUSINESSES AND SHOP OWNERS

Encourage to invest in the development of G.B.Road

Didis

Secondary Stakehlders

Change in Landscape... tendency that the footfall will increase

Building permanent learning centres in the area

NGO

Recruiting more man power to teach

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE DIDIS ?

P ITC H IN G

ACTORS INVOLVED Landscape Architect

INVESTING THIS INCOME INTO BUILDING LEARNING INFRASTRUCTURE

PHASE 4 Hangout Spots

Along with hangout spots , awareness and workshops spaces (temporary open spaces ) as interventions and catalytic points on site , other activities currently run by the NGO like Garden strips (where one could grow as well as make a go at selling some of the plants) , Maitri Meals and selling of some locally made handicrafts by the sex workers during festive seasons are activities that could be further enhanced and find more ground and exposure because of the network of social spaces introduced on site.

Awareness Programmes ,events and workshops spaces

These activitie as discusssed before could generate revenue for the Didis which should be invested in bringing in infrastructure that would enable education for their community onsite like establishing learning centres , introducing mobile libraries and learning cabins and recruiting more man power to educate to name a few.

GARDENING SKILLS

Garden Strips ,where small sapplings could be sold

ACTIVITIES CLOCK Sex Work

Commercial

NGO Didis

Food Carts or Mobile Carts

MAITRI MEALS

The temporary spaces could also be used for sellinng thigs made by the Didis in the workshops occassionally under the NGOs guidance

HANDMADE ITEMS SOLD DURING FESTIVALS

Didis NGO Sex Work

With the combined initiatives of the NGO and the landscape architect , this change in the Landscape of G.B.road introduces newly found characteristics into the lives of the Didis.

They gain the motivation to explore , the confidence to try and the social ability to interact.

And once the system of education is set into motion in Phase 4 , there opens a door to a choice /an alternative or a platform to indulge oneself into something different which could result in their social upliftment.

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SCENES FROM BANO'S LIFE - A RECAP

A SCENE FROM BANO'S LIFE - AT PHASE 4

PHASE 1 Things are changing at G.B.Road for Bano.She now often comes out to G.B.Road not only to participate at NGO activities but for other purposes as well.For eg:To enjoy some chaat from her favourite vendor.Even the vendor recognises her by name now.

THE STORYBOARD

PHASE 2

Namaste Banoji!

PHASE 3

She has enrolled into one of the few learning centres that have opened in the area and always visits the mobile library when they park in he area with er friends.

Now for Bano , G.B.Road not only provides opportunity to hone her gardening or business skills , but also provides her an opportunity to be educated.

Now Bano doesn't feel restricted to G.B.Road.She now has the confidence ,the identity and the awareness to walk through the society and explore what lies ahead of her !!

05

The Conclusion

Conclusion According to Italian designer and scholar Ezio Manzini , the role of the designer is to empower others.

This project touches upon a very sensitive and extremely marginalized community of women-the sex workers of the Red Light Districts. Empowering them through design means not only giving them a new meaning to their lives but to the place they occupy as well. Catering to the community and fulfilling their needs through design will rejuvenate the spatial volume they occupy and give the place a new identity powered by the community as opposed to the vice versa where the place might witness a revamp to accommodate the more privileged of the society but the marginalized will continue to be delineated from the city fabric.

The Theory of Urban Weave and the use of the convivial tools like mapping, urban acupuncture, Community participation etc. promise the development of the place and the people it holds equally. It might involve certain risks and even might end up casting an even more significant stereotype to the people of the area, but ultimately, the community is only benefitting from these inclusions on site. There is no threat to their livelihood, no forceful displacement or imposition of norms that might be difficult for them to adapt to or negotiate with (the contrary is very common in city planning, urban design and landscape architecture nowadays). Also, phasing of the design process and application of tools leaves enough room to assess if the proposed process is fit to be tested and implemented for the community, implying that the flexibility to stop in between this design process is always on the table.

This project has been partially worked on remotely. Being a privileged woman of the Indian society and having had no close exposure in the Red Light District, I do not hold the complete discretion to decide what happens to the people living in these areas as I have no direct association with them. That is when, I decide to collaborate with the people who might. This is the time when collaboration with the NGO becomes crucial as they have a built trust with the community.

They know the place in and out and above all, their goals are parallel to mineempowering the community; except the spatial angle which according to me could provide a larger platform to this aim .Hence , understanding the challenges such community help groups face in conducting their existing programs , a landscape architect has the opportunity to provide spatial intelligence that can act as a catalyst and enhance their activities.

In this particular book, the community of sex workers is the marginalized group that has been addressed through this design process and approach. But this process is not just restricted to this particular group, but can be applied to all the other delineated areas and people of the city who face extreme marginalization and stereotype .Tis approach will ensure an upliftment of the communities of these areas that will eventually lead the place they occupy to a more accepted position in the city fabric.

References

> Murcia - Urban Acupuncture Design Strategies: 15 shared practices | URBACT Website title: Urbact.eu URL: https://urbact.eu/murcia-urban-acupuncture-design-strategies-15-shared-practices > Spotlight South Africa: Three Designs Instilling Dignity & Defeating Stigma Website title: ArchDaily URL: https://www.archdaily.com/513704/spotlight-south-africa-three-designs-instilling-dignity-anddefeating-stigma > Spotlight South Africa: Three Designs Instilling Dignity & Defeating Stigma Website title: ArchDaily URL: https://www.archdaily.com/513704/spotlight-south-africa-three-designs-instilling-dignity-anddefeating-stigma > Urban Acupuncture Website title: Helsinkiacupuncture.blogspot.com URL: http://helsinkiacupuncture.blogspot.com/2008/12/blog-post.html > Manuel B. Aalbers & Magdalena Sabat (2012) Re-making a Landscape of Prostitution: the Amsterdam Red Light District, City, 16:1-2, 112-128, DOI: 10.1080/13604813.2012.662372 > How Urban Design Could Help Reduce Rape in India Website title: CityLab URL: https://www.citylab.com/equity/2014/06/how-urban-design-could-help-reduce-rape-inindia/372612/ >KatKatha URL : http://commutiny.in/kat-katha/ > Urbanised Documentary : Hustwit, Gary, and Lynda.com. Urbanized. Carpenteria, CA: Lynda.com, 2014. Web. URL : https://www.lynda.com/Architecture-tutorials/Urbanized/168237-2.html?org=rmit.edu.au > Kitty Haine Article title : Schipperskwartier, another kind of seduction.Your project, ready while you (a-)wait!

URL : http://www.isocarp.net/Data/case_studies/1031.pdf > Steven A. Kohm and John Selwood Article title: Sex Work and City Planning: Winnipeg’s Red Light District Committee and the Regulation of > Anushree Nagpal Year published: 2017 Article title: Beyond the Brothels: A Qualitative Study of the Destitute Female Sex Workers of Central Delhi Red Light Area Journal title: Journal of Geographical Studies > Historical Timeline - Legal Prostitution - ProCon.org Website title: Prostitution.procon.org URL: https://prostitution.procon.org/view.timeline.php?timelineID=000028 > Violence Prevention through Urban Upgrading in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, South Africa Website title: umusama2015 URL: https://umusama2015.wordpress.com/2015/04/11/vpuu/

> Erin Fuchs Article title: Why Antwerp Has The Best-Run Sex District In The World Website title: Business Insider Australia URL: https://www.businessinsider.com.au/antwerps-red-light-district-2013-11 > Shitij dogra Article title: Shitij dogra architectural portfolio Volume 1: Design Website title: Issuu URL: https://issuu.com/shitijdogra/docs/shitij_dogra_architectural_portfoli > SC dismisses plea of women challenging eviction from GB road - NewsX Website title: NewsX URL: https://www.newsx.com/national/31799-sc-dismisses-plea-of-women-challenging-eviction-fromgb-road > SC dismisses plea of women challenging eviction from GB road - NewsX Website title: NewsX URL: https://www.newsx.com/national/31799-sc-dismisses-plea-of-women-challenging-eviction-fromgb-road > Violence Prevention Through Urban Upgrading - Curry Stone Foundation Website title: Curry Stone Foundation URL: https://currystonefoundation.org/practice/violence-prevention-through-urban-upgrading/ > Violence Prevention Through Urban Upgrading - Curry Stone Foundation Website title: Curry Stone Foundation URL: https://currystonefoundation.org/practice/violence-prevention-through-urban-upgrading/ > Kriplani Article title: I visited the brothels of GB Road and they were not what I'd expected...

Website title: India Today URL: https://www.indiatoday.in/lifestyle/people/story/i-visited-the-brothels-of-gb-road-commutinythe-youth-collective-samjho-toh-express-310765-2016-02-26 > An Atlas of Radical Cartography >Urban Weaving -Jeremy Till