Former sex workers rearing to retreat
DH News Service Bangalore:
Majority of rescued sex workers crave to get back to their old profession,
courtesy - insensitive policing, pathetic rehabilitation and lack of
coordination between the police and the department of women and child
development.
These are the findings of a study by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)
and the Institute of Social Sciences (ISS).
Only five per cent of policemen (all ranks included) in Karnataka are sensitive
and aware about the seriousness of the issue of women and children trafficking.
They do not make any sincere effort to know the background and situation of the
victims, the study states.
Police have limited knowledge on trafficking and related issues and lack any
strategy to study the linkages of trafficking. For these failures, police have
blamed the present law, lack of evidence in trafficked cases and pressure from
higher officials and politicians. Referring to prostitution, the experts stated
that street prostitution was high in almost all towns and cities. However,
brothel keepers have told the investigators that people visiting brothels had
reduced due to the fear of Aids. Majority of sex workers belong to SC, ST and
Muslim communities and this is because of reasons like illiteracy, ignorance,
lack of skills and exposure.
A police officer’s view on the issue explains best the attitude of police,
“Sex workers are a need in the society. If they are controlled forcefully, the
cases of trafficking of other women in the society will rise.”
Majority of active sex workers remain in the profession only because there is no
alternative. Sex worker with 3-5 children cannot lead an alternative life with
rehabilitation package. The rehabilitation centres run by the government too are
in a pathetic condition. Added to it is ill-treatment by staff and lack of
activities for rescued sex workers.
[Deccan Herald, Saturday, October 1, 2005]