Found this in my files today...something i had written sometime back...in a hurry...
I will not defend them and say that they are victims. Despite the fact that most of them are here facing compulsion...they were lured by the money, the money which they need to provide a decent home to their impoverished families.
They are now the living proof to the ever booming business of commercial sex in the gateway to the Northeast.
Its not like we never knew about what goes on in some pockets of the city. Places like Pandu, Kalapahar, Paltanbazar, Rajgarh, Ganeshguri, Nabin Nagar or Beltola come alive every night. Its not like we never noticed the salwar kameez clad lady at the bus stop near the Judges Field, in the evenings. It has been just about a decade since she picked that vantage point!
But we choose to feign ignorance. We want to believe that our brothers, uncles, boyfriend, husband or father would never notice them!
Why do they stand at those particular spots then, night after night, if not to entice the males of this city? Where do they earn the 800-2000 Rupees per day? Not from some charity, for sure.
Then why not allow them to have their own little district? Why keep it under wraps? Is it a dirty little secret? Will Guwahati grow up and create its own Sonagachi or GB Road? I am sharing with you what I gathered from a cross section of people.
'I think Guwahati needs a Red Light Area as I feel this would, to some extent quench the urgent requirements of the desperate people roaming about in the streets of this rapidly growing city. Atleast they might stop themselves from pouncing on anything even remotely feminine they lay their eyes on!', says Kirti Das, a musician.
Violet Choudhury (name changed), a government employee and a former television producer and anchor believes that , 'Prostitution as a trade is prevalant in the city since many many years. Police crackdowns and media operations have been creating unwanted embarrasing situations for many over the last few years. If things are channelised properly, it will hopefully decrease crimes like rape and molestations rampant in the city'.
Meanwhile, popular Scriptwriter and actor Tridib Lahon, on being asked for his opinion said, 'We, the Assamese, claim to be very modern, very worldly wise. But fact remains that the society is still very immatured. We are yet to open up to such things. Guwahati definately needs a Red Light Area. Every city needs one.'
There are people who advocate against it as well. Of all the people I got in touch with, a good 80% say it is a must to demarcate such an area, within or in the outskirts of the city. But the rest, the 20% have reasons to support their views against a proper Red light area in Guwahati.
Pori (name changed), an entreprenuer, based in Guwahati says, 'Guwahati does not need a Red Light Area. Moral values will be too easily compromised. There is no need to be so open about it!'
Ritwick, A software engineer from Guwahati, currently based in Chicago, USA says, 'I don't like the concept of Red Light Areas. Even if Guwahati gets one, there should be proper security for the women who work there, like, say, in Switzerland. But even if people tend to believe otherwise, I don't think a Red Light Area will lead to a decrease in sex related crimes. It will only make it easier for pimps to lure girls into this business, as it will gain acceptance.'
'The temptation and easy availibilty will change the male mindset. Guwahati does not need such areas. The incidence of sexual crimes against women is quite less compared to most of the other cities. Let it remain that way', says Jatin, an IT Professional.
Those who have been drawn into this quicksand have lost all hopes of living a normal life. They want to come out, but nobody, not even those in power, offer them a helping hand.
Ostracised by the society, their basic concern, usually, is the welfare of their children, whether legitimate or illegitimate.
Feroze, an actor and a budding director, currently based in Mumbai believes that, 'The government should take steps to provide these sex workers and their families basic facilities like medical and education. It will help in raising the standard of living of these people. They are, after all, citizens of this very nation.'
This is being expected from the same authorities who aren't even admitting how huge this industry has now become! Will these women ever be pulled out of the dreary darkness?
Twenty something, a marketing executive, Manali Deka says, 'There is a belief that this age old practise, Prostitution, helps reduce sex related crimes. In mediavel times Institutionalised Prostitution had been proven to be a means of rape control. Even columnist Khushwant Singh had written in a much controversial article of his, entitled, 'How a rapist should be punished', that Prostitution must be legalised to prevent rape.'
Perhaps only then will this section of the society gain accepatance in the mainstream. Perhaps then, their children will have a normal childhood.
They will be there, they cannot be wiped out. Why not let them live with dignity?
But, there is one more hurdle. The over zealous activists crowding the city. I wonder what their stand will be? Lets hope the Dighalipukhuri Peace Park will be ready for the banners, placards and the television cameras!
(this piece was published in a city based tabloid in Guwahati)
I will not defend them and say that they are victims. Despite the fact that most of them are here facing compulsion...they were lured by the money, the money which they need to provide a decent home to their impoverished families.
They are now the living proof to the ever booming business of commercial sex in the gateway to the Northeast.
Its not like we never knew about what goes on in some pockets of the city. Places like Pandu, Kalapahar, Paltanbazar, Rajgarh, Ganeshguri, Nabin Nagar or Beltola come alive every night. Its not like we never noticed the salwar kameez clad lady at the bus stop near the Judges Field, in the evenings. It has been just about a decade since she picked that vantage point!
But we choose to feign ignorance. We want to believe that our brothers, uncles, boyfriend, husband or father would never notice them!
Why do they stand at those particular spots then, night after night, if not to entice the males of this city? Where do they earn the 800-2000 Rupees per day? Not from some charity, for sure.
Then why not allow them to have their own little district? Why keep it under wraps? Is it a dirty little secret? Will Guwahati grow up and create its own Sonagachi or GB Road? I am sharing with you what I gathered from a cross section of people.
'I think Guwahati needs a Red Light Area as I feel this would, to some extent quench the urgent requirements of the desperate people roaming about in the streets of this rapidly growing city. Atleast they might stop themselves from pouncing on anything even remotely feminine they lay their eyes on!', says Kirti Das, a musician.
Violet Choudhury (name changed), a government employee and a former television producer and anchor believes that , 'Prostitution as a trade is prevalant in the city since many many years. Police crackdowns and media operations have been creating unwanted embarrasing situations for many over the last few years. If things are channelised properly, it will hopefully decrease crimes like rape and molestations rampant in the city'.
Meanwhile, popular Scriptwriter and actor Tridib Lahon, on being asked for his opinion said, 'We, the Assamese, claim to be very modern, very worldly wise. But fact remains that the society is still very immatured. We are yet to open up to such things. Guwahati definately needs a Red Light Area. Every city needs one.'
There are people who advocate against it as well. Of all the people I got in touch with, a good 80% say it is a must to demarcate such an area, within or in the outskirts of the city. But the rest, the 20% have reasons to support their views against a proper Red light area in Guwahati.
Pori (name changed), an entreprenuer, based in Guwahati says, 'Guwahati does not need a Red Light Area. Moral values will be too easily compromised. There is no need to be so open about it!'
Ritwick, A software engineer from Guwahati, currently based in Chicago, USA says, 'I don't like the concept of Red Light Areas. Even if Guwahati gets one, there should be proper security for the women who work there, like, say, in Switzerland. But even if people tend to believe otherwise, I don't think a Red Light Area will lead to a decrease in sex related crimes. It will only make it easier for pimps to lure girls into this business, as it will gain acceptance.'
'The temptation and easy availibilty will change the male mindset. Guwahati does not need such areas. The incidence of sexual crimes against women is quite less compared to most of the other cities. Let it remain that way', says Jatin, an IT Professional.
Those who have been drawn into this quicksand have lost all hopes of living a normal life. They want to come out, but nobody, not even those in power, offer them a helping hand.
Ostracised by the society, their basic concern, usually, is the welfare of their children, whether legitimate or illegitimate.
Feroze, an actor and a budding director, currently based in Mumbai believes that, 'The government should take steps to provide these sex workers and their families basic facilities like medical and education. It will help in raising the standard of living of these people. They are, after all, citizens of this very nation.'
This is being expected from the same authorities who aren't even admitting how huge this industry has now become! Will these women ever be pulled out of the dreary darkness?
Twenty something, a marketing executive, Manali Deka says, 'There is a belief that this age old practise, Prostitution, helps reduce sex related crimes. In mediavel times Institutionalised Prostitution had been proven to be a means of rape control. Even columnist Khushwant Singh had written in a much controversial article of his, entitled, 'How a rapist should be punished', that Prostitution must be legalised to prevent rape.'
Perhaps only then will this section of the society gain accepatance in the mainstream. Perhaps then, their children will have a normal childhood.
They will be there, they cannot be wiped out. Why not let them live with dignity?
But, there is one more hurdle. The over zealous activists crowding the city. I wonder what their stand will be? Lets hope the Dighalipukhuri Peace Park will be ready for the banners, placards and the television cameras!
(this piece was published in a city based tabloid in Guwahati)
No 1 prostitute in guwahati.
ReplyDeleteNo 1 prostitute in guwahati
No 1 prostitute in guwahati
No 1 prostitute in guwahati
No 1 prostitute in guwahati
No 1 prostitute in guwahati
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