MPs speak up for sex workers

[Guest guest]

MPs speak up for sex workers

[Thursday, December 15, 2005 02:10:24 am TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]

NEW DELHI: India may be leagues away from officially recognising the

existence of prostitution, given that pre-marital sex can raise a

political sandstorm.

But on Wednesday in Lok Sabha, several members pointed to the

urgency of helping sex workers protect themselves and society

against AIDS and the need to provide their children a decent life.

Minoti Sen of CPM pointed to reports and surveys which showed that

many women in the sex trade were forced into the profession while in

the teens and pre-teens.

She also said that in several instances, family members were

responsible for sending young girls into prostitution. " We need to

help the women who have no choice, they were never given any, for

their state of being, " she argued.

MP said that monitoring sex workers was vital - to their interests

as well as containing communicable disease. This was needed as the

government seemed to turn a blind eye to the enormity of the problem

of commercial, unsafe sex.

She said it was social reality that no longer could be ignored. Sen

stressed the need to protect women from abuse associated with the

sex trade.

" There daily lives are full of uncertainties. We must act to prevent

girls being forced into prostitution and completely abandoned by

society, " she said.

Sumitra Mahajan of BJP said, " Girls are brought in from Bangladesh

and left at the mercy of unscrupulous, exploitative elements. Who

will help them?, " she asked. She said the government could not

resolve the problem by itself but needed to secure involvement of

voluntary organisations.

There are points of obvious vulnerability like railway stations

where children and women arrive or simply hang around.

Is there any thought being given to providing protection to those

who may have been brought to cities against their will and are too

frightened to seek assistance. Are there police cells looking at

this? " Mahajan wanted to know.

" There are instances where children are sleeping in the same room

where their mothers have to accept clients. There was a proposal for

night creches for these children. I hope the government is doing

something on this, " the BJP MP said.

Minister of state Kanti Singh said, " We know that poverty drives

women to prostitution. So do exploitative relatives and flesh

traders. I accept the points raised in the House. "

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