No Work, No Worth? Aging and Social Abandonment of Retired Sex Workers in Nat Community in Rajasthan, India

This article examines post-retirement livelihood experiences of older adult women from the Nat community in rural Rajasthan. Historically marginalized under the Criminal Tribes Act of 1871, the community has been associated with itinerant entertainment and women's involvement in sex work. Based on qualitative in-depth interviews with ten older women from two villages who have exited sex work, the study uses thematic analysis to explore their late-life conditions. Findings reveal an absence of family, community and institutional support despite their earlier role as primary earners. Most now survive through festival-based begging while coping with poor health. Grounded in disengagement theory, labeling theory, active aging, and intersectionality, the study underscores the need for inclusive and culturally responsive aging policies.