Goa: 5 yrs on, prostitution still alive in Baina: Study

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5 yrs on, prostitution still alive in Baina: Study

HERALD REPORTER,PANJIM, JUNE 13

In the post red light area demolition period, the age old business of

prostitution may have become difficult in Baina, but it has not stopped

entirely.

A study conducted by ARZ, a Vasco-based non governmental organisation throws

light upon post-demolition scenario in Baina, known for its high-risk red light

area prior to its demolition on June 14, 2004.

Then State government hastily demolished huts, rooms and cubicles in the

red-light area without making proper arrangements for rehabilitation of the

affected persons. The demolition was carried out by the Bharatiya Janata Party

government following a High Court order, with the objective of putting a stop

to prostitution in the area.

The report by ARZ indicates that prostitution business in Baina continues even

today due to a strong nexus between bar owners, pimps, brothel keepers and room

owners.

COMPENSATION: A major aberration, according to the NGO, is that the government

is yet to give compensation to affected people. When contacted Dr Pramod

Salgaocar, chairperson of Goa State Women's Commission (GSWC) said, they

have finalised to give compensation of Rs 1 lakh each to 10 persons.

The commission was given the task to identify and settle the claims of

rehabilitation. The delay was caused as there were disputes about actual

number of affected people.

But as rough estimates said around 500 persons were reported to have been

affected, Dr Salgaocar said majority of the women have gone back (to the

states they came from). Most of them working as commercial sex workers in Baina

came largely came from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.

PICK-UPS: However , according to ARZ, lack of availability of accommodation

(rooms) for such activities in Baina has compelled women often to go

elsewhere with customers, mainly to lodges in Vasco.

" Some of the organised networks of brothel-keepers have been destroyed. While

this may be a good thing in the long run, the fact remains that no

rehabilitation whatsoever was provided to the women, so they are forced to

continue prostitution in conditions of heightened insecurity and risk. " says

the report.

According to its findings, 14 brothel-keepers are operating from Baina

post-demolition — some brothel-keepers left the area after the demolition,

taking the girls along with them so that they could run the business elsewhere.

A few returned and continue to operate there, it says.

Though the number of brothel-keepers in the area after the demolition dropped,

the study team however found that those in business now engage in more vicious

exploitation of the girls.

The report also says that majority of the brothel-keepers have not taken on new

girls after the demolition. Either the girls solicit or the pimps get the

customers. Also the brothel-keepers and pimps do not allow the girls to exit

from prostitution and opt for rehabilitation.

FLY BY-NIGHT: Due to a drop in the business, brothel-keepers now prefer to

send the girls out of Baina. The places where they are sent include Margao,

Panjim, and other places in Goa and also outside the State such as Mysore,

Chennai, etc.

NO POLITICAL WILL: The report also stated that Goa lost an opportunity to curb

the problem of trafficking in Goa after the High Court judgment in 2004

regarding Baina. " The State failed to act against the traffickers as directed by

the court, as a result of which the perpetrators went scot-free. "

The end result is, today, traffickers from Baina continue in business — in

Baina and other parts of the State. The report lists names of eight pimps

soliciting customers for the girls in Vasco with four soliciting points in

the port town.

PROTECTION: The brothel keepers who continue to operate in Goa are those who

have relatives in Goa and have contacts with locals who provide them protection.

Most of these brothel-keepers were assisted by these protectors to shift their

business from Baina and set-up base in other parts of the State.

DEALS ON PHONE:

Their modus operandi is they have recruited new girls due to fear of

identification by the police and local administration. Girls are made to stay

in flats hired by the brothel keepers. They are then sent to hotels and

lodges or to flats after negotiating deals telephonically. Though they are

sent to different parts of Goa, South Goa remains their main area of operation,

the report says.

The brothel-keepers whose rooms got demolished five years ago and were unable

to set up business again after demolitions, visit Baina on occasions, such as

during elections, religious festivals, etc, says the report.

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