My friend Gallupo Lobo recently concluded a survey. He asked respondents how a network of NGOs could put an end to prostitution in Goa working with government agencies.
A housewife suggested the girls be taken to a safer place and recalcitrant men into safer hands. As in Mrs. Palmer and her 5 daughters and Mrs. Ambidextrous and her five daughters. Hands-on onanism.
A social activist suggested closer ties between government N.G.O.s – a.k.a. G.O.N.G.O.S., police and women’s groups. Exchange information on traffickers. Make sure there are no repeat incidents. As in re-cycling of confiscated drugs from judicial custody and re-circulation of counterfeit currency-notes.
A retired I.G.P. says prostitution cannot be stopped. It should not be allowed near schools and places of worship. Women should be allowed to practice their trade of their own volition. They should not be forced or trafficked.
An anti-social activist said prostitution is good for society, especially because of the adverse sex-ratio in India. Its good for tourism, pimps, and madams. It releases tension in society. He quoted St. Augustine – “Prostitution is to society what the cess-pit is to the palace. Take away the cess-pit and the whole palace will stink.”
A politician said he sympathises with prostitutes because politics and prostitution are the oldest and second-oldest professions in the world. “That is why they have red lights on their residences and we have them on the roof of our car.”
“We have our own touts, hangers-on, ‘chamchas’, agents, favourites, facilitators, goons ... The prostitutes have their pimps, protectors, in uniform and in mufti. We prostitute our principles to politics. They politicise their principles to prostitution.
Behind every prostitution ring you will find a pimping politician.
