Prostitution in India.

According to Human Rights Watch, there are approximately 15 million prostitutes in India. There are more than 100,000 women in prostitution in Bombay, Asia's largest sex industry center. Girls in prostitution in India, Pakistan and the Middle East are tortured, held in virtual imprisonment, sexually abused, and raped. Girl prostitutes are primarily located in low-middle income areas and business districts and are known by officials. Brothel keepers regularly recruit young girls. Girl prostitutes are grouped as common prostitutes, singers and dancers, call girls, religious prostitutes or devdasi, and caged brothel prostitutes. Districts bordering Maharashtra and Karnataka, known as the "devadasi belt," have trafficking structures operating at various levels. The women here are in prostitution either because their husbands deserted them, or they are trafficked through coercion and deception. Many are devadasi dedicated into prostitution for the goddess Yellamma.

An oft-repeated cause of prostitution is poverty. But poverty is only one of the reasons. The helplessness of women forces them to sell their bodies. Many girls from villages are trapped for the trade in the pretext of love and elope from home only to find themselves sold in the city to pimps who take money from the women as commission. The other causes of prostitution include ill treatment by parents, bad company, family prostitutes, social customs, inability to arrange marriage, lack of sex education, media, prior incest and rape, early marriage and desertion, lack of recreational facilities, ignorance, and acceptance of prostitution. Economic causes include poverty and economic distress. Psychological causes include desire for physical pleasure, greed, and dejection.

Most enter involuntarily. India, along with Thailand and the Philippines, has 1.3 million children in its sex-trade centers. The children come from relatively poorer areas and are trafficked to relatively richer ones. India and Pakistan are the main destinations for children under 16 who are trafficked in south Asia. What is causing alarm both in governmental and NGO circles is the escalation in trafficking of young girls in the last decade. NGOs like STOP and MAITI in Nepal report that most trafficking in India (both trans-border and in-country) is for prostitution. And 60 per cent of those trafficked into prostitution are adolescent girls in the age group of 12 to 16 years. These figures are corroborated by a study done by the Department of Women and Children in 13 sensitive districts of Uttar Pradesh. It reveals that all sex workers who formed a part of this survey had entered the profession as young girls. Many transsexuals, called hijiras, are sex workers. The families of hijiras reject them. They face opposition from the public, and with the denial of employment they take to begging and then enter the sex market.

Globalization, professionalisation of trafficking syndicates, feminization of poverty and rise in sex tourism - all have contributed to an increase in trafficking. This problem is further compounded because of two factors: linkages of trafficking with the spread of HIV/AIDS and the clandestine nature of the activity. Studies now show that while women of all ages are more vulnerable to the infection than men, young girls are even more at risk because their genital tracts are immature. In addition, they have absolutely no control over sexual relations and sexual health. So a physical vulnerability is compounded by gender vulnerability. The study done in 13 districts of Uttar Pradesh shows that in a sample of 1,341 sex workers, brothel-based prostitution was 793 and family-based prostitution came close at 548.Since prostitution is not legal, the police can arrest sex workers at any time.

The police, whose main function is to protect and serve, turn out to be robbers stealing the little money that these workers "earn." Interventions are increasingly based on issues like combating stigma related to HIV/AIDS, developing empowering strategies for victims and involving communities in the rehabilitation of rescued women and girls. But there is a lot that still needs to be done. Involvement of communities is of the greatest significance here since it has been seen that their families and communities do not accept rescued women and girls. The situation becomes worse if someone tests positive for HIV because she is immediately labeled a prostitute - a perception that creates a complex situation in the rehabilitation programmes. Even if trafficked returnees can avoid such treatment, they have few options for survival. What is needed is a multi-pronged strategy which can help in curbing trafficking and empowering communities and which also has scope for rescue and rehabilitation processes. The task is not just daunting; given the political priorities of most governments it is not given the importance it deserves.

Child Malnutrition in India.

Child malnutrition is a biggest challenge our country is facing today even when the economy is said to surging ahead. Every second child under three in the country is malnourished.The number for under five children is 55 million which is two and half times the population of Australia.35% of the world's malnourished children live in India. Half the number of child deaths takes place due to malnutrition which could be prevented. The situation has not seen an improvement between the reports of the National Family Health Survey III in 2007 and NFHS II seven years earlier.

It is a known fact that malnutrition can affect economic productivity and the ability to make decisions. Experts say that unless the problem is addressed on a war footing it will lower the country's GDP growth rate by 2-3%.One of the reasons why the issue has remained unaddressed is because it is not high on national agenda. There has been no determined action.

The problem of child malnutrition starts long before the child is born. The age at which a woman marries has a bearing on the foetus. So does her nutritional intake during pregnancy and after she gives birth. Her educational status will decide whether she goes in for institutional deliveries which prevent infections, the importance she attaches to hygiene and to immunization of her child. Her nutrition, health and education and her status in the family and the community determine whether the child is malnourished or not. It is not possible to address the problem of child malnutrition unless the condition of the woman is improved.

The Indian figures are worse than the malnutrition rates prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa even though those countries have known for famine, poverty and political instability. In the world 40% of the low weight babies (below 2.5kg) are from India. One of the major causes of low birth weight babies in India is the high incidences of anaemia among women.

Recent studies have shown that the damage is done by the time a child reaches the age of two. The critical age-group is 0-2 and it is this group that needs the maximum attention. The governments focus needs to shift to address the nutritional and survival issues related to this group.

The issue of child malnutrition needs attention from all levels. From political will to pressure from civil societies and communities themselves.

Female Foeticide in India

The 2001 census of India reveals a decline in the overall child sex ratio for the age-group 0-6 years from 945 in 1991 to 927 in 2001.Contrary to the belief that the malaise is typical to rural ,backward areas, urban centers more literate and liberal have shown a drop from 935 in 1991 to 906 in 2001.

In Delhi, the national capital, the child sex ratio is an alarming 868.While the reasons for this vary from higher female mortality at a younger age as a result of neglect to infanticide and foeticide; the dismal numbers are a telling comment on the educated society that refuses to rid itself of its regressive male bias.

The Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques Regulations and Prevention of Misuse Act came into force in 1994 to curb selective sex determination. With rapid improvements in diagnostic technology the Act was amended in 2003 in order that it became more comprehensive and was renamed the Preconception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act.

To monitor the implementation of the PC & PNDT Act, the ministry of Health and Family Welfare has set up a Central Supervisory Board as well as state-level supervisory committees. A ministry report indicates that there are 420 ongoing court/police cases for violations of the law. Of these only 65 cases relate to identification and revelation of the sex of the foetus, 43 are against people who have advertised facilities for sex selection and the rest are for non-registration of clinics/facilities.

Apart from the nature of the Act, government inaction in most cases is due to the fact that the patient, her family and the violators of the law are hand-in-glove. The Annual Report (2006) of the PC &PNDT division also identifies the non-availability of evidence or witnesses as the chief hindrance to implementing the law. The unscrupulous doctors and patients have developed their own sex determination code language to circumvent the law. For an instance if a doctor says collect the report on Monday the family is meant to infer that the unborn child is a boy. Friday connotes the girl child. Also signing a report in blue ink indicates a boy while red ink is meant for baby girls. The Annual Report mentions the fact the CMO or CS is usually not empowered enough to bring violators to book. Also abortions to limit family size add to the difficulty of nabbing guilty.

Despite the loopholes the government has exerted itself to advocate the girl child's right to live. A new website has been launched www.pndt.gov.in with the facility to file a complaint online against doctors, maternity homes and clinics. The organizations like Sonological Society of India are also supporting the government initiatives.

Khap Panchayat in India

Khap is a cluster of villages united by caste and geography.It is as old as 14th century started by upper caste jats to consolidate their power and position.The main rule is that all boys and girls within a khap are considered siblings.

Khap panchayat governs the khap formed by same gotra ( clan) families from several neighbouring villages.Khap panchayats are prevalent in Haryana,western Uttar Pradesh and Parts of Rajasthan.Love marriages are considered taboo in areas governed by Khap panchayats.Those living in a Khap are not allowed to marry in the same gotra or even in any gotra from the same village.Many young couples have been killed in the past defying khap rules.

Khap panchyat imposes its writ through social boycotts and fines and in most cases end up either killing or forcing the victims to commit suicide.All this is done in the name of brotherhood and its honour. It is due to the inherent weakness of democratically elected Panchayati Raj institutions,Khap panchayats have been powerful. Even the government has not done much to control their power.

The 10-15 men who constitute a Khap settle disputes and control the lives of young people. Many village people also defend these caste panchayats as they deliver the verdict in one sitting whereas court cases drag for years.According to them ,in many cases innocent people get harassed in the court and by police.Here as everyone is known so they cross check everything to ensure neutrality.

In some Haryana villages, the young girls are routinely threatened, abused and killed all under Khap verdicts. It is acceptable for the families to feed pesticide pills to the teenage girls and then dispose off their bodies by burning them without any police records. The entire onus of siblinghood rests on the girl. She is the keeper of village honor. Sometimes rules are bend for the boys but a girl is never allowed to bend the rules. If a couple run away then the families risk the boycott and hefty fines in lakhs of rupees.Even the other women of the house can suffer abuse.

In keeping with the khap rules ,older villages try to keep the young people apart.Some schools are also forced to have separate timings for the boys and girls.Fearing their daughters would go astray, many parents marry them off at an early age.People have unquestionable faith in the justice of khap.The question of rights for women does not exist any where in the territories ruled by Khap panchayats.

Honour Killings in India

To be young and in love has proved fatal for many young girls and boys in parts of north India as an intolerant and bigoted society refuses to accept any violation of its rigid code of decorum, especially when it comes to women. The two teenage girls who were shot dead last week by a cousin in Noida for daring to run away to meet their boyfriends are the latest victims of honour killings, a euphemism for doing away with anyone seen as spoiling the family's reputation. Many such killings are happening with regularity in Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh. These are socially sanctioned by caste panchayats and carried out by mobs with the connivance of family members.

The usual remedy to such murders is to suggest that society must be prevailed upon to be more gender-sensitive and shed prejudices of caste and class. Efforts should be made to sensitise people on the need to do away with social biases. But equally, it should be made clear that there is no escape for those who take justice into their own hands. So far, there is no specific law to deal with honour killings. The murders come under the general categories of homicide or manslaughter. When a mob has carried out such attacks, it becomes difficult to pinpoint a culprit. The collection of evidence becomes tricky and eyewitnesses are never forthcoming.

Like the case of Sati and dowry where there are specific laws with maximum and minimum terms of punishment, honour killings, too, merit a second look under the law. In many cases, the victims who run away with 'unsuitable' partners are lured back home after FIRs are filed by their families. The police cannot be unaware that in many cases they are coming back to certain death at the hands of their relatives and fellow villagers.

Yet, pre-emptive action to protect them is never taken. Undoubtedly, the virus of caste and class that affects those carrying out such crimes affects the police in the area too. But that can be no excuse to sanction murder. Active policing and serious penal sanctions is the only antidote to this most dishonourable practice.

Violence against Women

Women have been the victims of violence all through the ages in all societies, cultures, regions and religious communities of the world.

In India which claim to have apostle of people and non violence women bear the brunt of violence domestic as well as public, physical and as well as emotional. Violence against women is linked to her status as subservient to patriarchal norms dominant in the society.

From post Vedic period violence against women began to be practiced .The doors of educational, economic, social, political and cultural opportunities were gradually closed for them. The birth of the son came to be the occasion to rejoice and that of a girl of grief. Their personal freedom in respect of movement, dress, diet, marriage came to be dominated by men. Women also began to be enslaved. They were equated with cattle or commodities that could be sold and purchased. Various obligations, restrictions and regulations were imposed on them and different penalties and punishments were prescribed if a woman violated them. Thus violence against women came to have a societal sanction.

As the time progressed several ills began to creep up in the society. The widow's right to life began to be denied and practice of sati was introduced. Wife beating got religious and social sanction. Violence against women further increased when young girls began to be forced to serve as the devdasis in the temples. This also made prostitution as part of the religious life. Girls began to be married off at the tender age and in certain communities the newborn girls began to be killed by the parents themselves. Polygamy took strong roots in the society and forced marriages began common.

The colonial India did see some legislations and education that momentarily brought a halt to violence against women but largely British displayed indifference to the status of women. After Independence violence against women has only grown in all its dimensions. The violence in form of female feticide has taken new turn with the progress of science and technology when illegal screening of fetus became available at the doorstep. Most of the violence against women is related to and grows out of their position in society. Woman is perceived as weaker sex, dependent on man therefore can be treated badly. Expected to submit to every whim of the man the least sign of resistance on a woman's part invites use of violence to make her comply. If she is uneducated, unskilled and economically dependent a woman seldom has any choice but to bear all the atrocities heaped on her.

Apart from domestic violence, women are victim of public violence more often and more humiliating like gang rape etc. Rape is not just the act of individual man against a woman but also a show of patriarchal mindset. It has become an instrument and weapon to prevent women from raising their voice against atrocities. In personal or family feuds or wars rape has always been a form of humiliating the adversary. The violence continues unabated but no social action has been forthcoming. Legislations are there and recently more teeth are added to them but people seem to have no fear of law.

Violence against women is aggregated by factors such as caste, religion, communal and class. Caste wars result in rape or molestation of women. Religious fundamentalism imposes restrictions first on women and they are the ones penalized for trying to break out of blatantly unfair and unrealistic codes of behavior.

The society need to be sensitized to the fact that women are not meant to be treated as doormat of punching bag. The law enforcing machinery must be trained and made sensitive to the issue. Women must organize themselves in groups and raise a collective voice against a system that turns a blind eye towards if not actually condones violent acts against women. United efforts can create a public opinion and outcry against humiliations against women done by men in government or uniform can work as a deterrent. Women have to be aware of their rights and stand up to them. Women must help themselves and each other in the fight against violence. Attitudinal change is required right from the home to be able for women to stand with dignity in this world.

Juvenile Crimes in India

In recent years India has seen manifold increase in crimes committed by minors. While analyzing the factors responsible for the spurt in crime rate the experts believe that the rural-urban conflict is at the core of these crimes in cities especially underage crimes. The largely rural and semi urban background of most of the offenders point to that direction. According to the researchers these young people are not benefitting from the economic reforms in comparison to the educated and professional counterparts in the cities. They feel neglected, frustrated and distressed which leads to crimes such as murder etc.

An increase in number of rural people migrating to cities in search of better life opportunities however do not prepare them for the urban value system. The children are often neglected, as both parents are working and unable to spend time with them. The children do not get the attention and right values essential for upbringing.

According to the report ‘Why Children Commit Offences’ published by Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) in June 2015 focused on children in conflict with the law in Delhi. The report looks at multiple issues like the socio-economic profile of children with a criminal record, the nature of offence that these children were accused of and analyzed the factors that push children towards deviant behavior. The report highlighted the role of the family, the community, the school and education as well the peer influence. The report after studying 182 children in observation homes, special homes found that poverty is one of the biggest contributing factor in children taken to crimes. Most of the children had undergone multiple deprivations with low economic households, uneducated parents; disrupted families. The children were dropouts and working independently to support their families.