Leaving the mucky trade of prostitution is not easy, but for women from the Banchhada tribe in Madhya Pradesh, prostitution is their fate. While passing along the Neemuch-Mansaur Highway in MP, one can see women sitting on charpoys, dressed in bright clothes, wearing loud make-up and hoping to a get a client; sometimes truck drivers and other times men from other villages.
The flesh trade has a social sanction in Neemuch, Ratlam and Mandsaur districts of Madhya Pradesh. The members of the Banchhada community, who operate family-based prostitution for livelihood, consider the birth of a girl auspicious as it means another breadwinner for the family. The fathers and brothers end up acting as pimps, taking care of all the arrangements. The family house has a dedicated room for this purpose exclusively.
Girls are turned into prostitutes by their parents when they are between 12 and 14 years old. Almost all of them, staying in the same village, have children, who may be called as illegitimate.
Prostitution is the way of life for these families. The profession is passed down generations and young girls are groomed to become prostitutes as male members mostly live off their earnings. The tradition comes down from the days when the women from the tribe would grow up to become respected courtesan. But the same respect is not given to women in flesh trade anymore.
In a country obsessed with male child, the birth of a girl child is believed fortunate here.
Al-rasub
"This belt- Ratlam, Mandsaur and Neemuch- although notorious for opium cultivation, is also known for Banchhada community, in which prostitution has been given a societal approval," Akash Chouhan, coordinator of Nai Abha Samajik Chetna Samiti, an NGO that works for the uplift of this community, told PTI.??
"As the members of the community are dependent on the women of the family for livelihood, they always celebrate the birth of a girl child with pomp, unlike others. For earning their bread, the male members allow their women to indulge in prostitution, although it is illegal in the eyes of law," he added.
The total population of Banchhada community, which is spread over 75 villages in the three districts, is about 23,000, of which at least 65 per cent are women.
In 2015, the Madhya Pradesh Women Empowerment Department conducted a survey in 38 villages in Mandsaur. The data revealed that their population in the district was 3,435, with 2,243 women and 1,192 men. Meaning, two women for every man.
A similar exercise conducted in 2012 in Neemuchs 24 Banchhada-dominated villages also showed that the number of women is more than the men-- 3,595 women and 2,770 men.
The families are certainly giving preference to girl child, but for wrong reasons.
Unfortunately, many who do not opt to be part of this culture find themselves entangled into the grimy profession.?
Prostitution has led to the menace of human trafficking in the community.
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In order to improve the financial condition of the family, Banchhada members buy girls from different parts of the state or country.
They indulge in purchasing new-born girls from different areas. Once they come of age, they are thrown into prostitution. The rise in the number of women in the community is not only because of their birth but also because of rampant purchase of trafficked girl child.?
The complete process of purchasing and selling a girl in Banchhada community is done in a very organised manner. Middlemen have an imperative role to play. Unfortunately, for the male members and a few female members of the community this is just an investment. A girl can be bought for a nominal sum ranging between Rs 2000 to Rs 10,000.
Evidently, in areas and cultures like this, AIDS thrives.
Blood samples taken from the population of 5,500 in two districts, has found 15-16 per cent of them to be HIV positive.
While government has taken measures to curb prostitution and human trafficking in the community, social awareness is still not able to set roots.