Most Goans were under the impression that illegal prostitution would be eradicated from Goa after the demolition of the State’s red-light area at Baina in 2004. However, the commercial sexual exploitation of girls and women has continued albeit under different tags. With the vast advancement of modern technology and the internet, the illegal sex trade has found more discreet ways to operate with convenience. Although people know that the sex trade is still being carried out in Goa, its expansion will probably shock many.
ARZ (Anyay Rahit Zindagi), a social organisation aimed at combating trafficking of persons have stated that undercover prostitution is still largely active in the State and the turnover of the touts go upto Rs 2.5 crore. The amount itself is enough to prove that illegal commercial sex trade is very much active in the State. As per ARZ, the girls from outside Goa are brought here and forced into prostitution. There is a chain of procurers under whom 5000 girls work. On an average, at least 2000 girls are made to ‘work’ and their procurers charge their customers anywhere between Rs 5,000 to Rs 25,000.
If the average figure is to be counted Rs 10,000, the turnover easily reaches the mark of Rs 2 crore. These figures have been obtained from the procurers arrested by police. These figures tell the tragic tales of women who had to choose this unfortunate path. Once they enter this world regardless of their reasons, it becomes almost impossible for them to get out of it. While police rescue the girls, the procurers drag them back in the vicious cycle of suffering. There is a need for assured rehabilitation of these women otherwise, they will be stuck in this profession due to their weak financial background. While these stories are of concern, one must acknowledge the incredible work of ARZ.
There are 35 victims employed at a factory which was started by the organisation’s initiative. This number might seem small to some but considering the negligible amount of organisations who work for the sex workers, it’s commendable. Now, such work should happen at a larger scale. Firstly, this profession is not socially acceptable and is a crime under the law. However, the profession continues to thrive discreetly. There have been incidents where the lives of many, including high-profile personalities, have been ruined due to scandals.
A film ‘Ram Teri Ganga Maili’ released in 1985 portrays the heart wrenching story of a woman who travels to Kolkata in search of her husband but instead gets forced into prostitution. Life imitates art and there are countless such stories of women who were cheated into illegal sex trade. There are women who secretly enter the world of commercial sex work against her wishes to support their families. No girl or a woman will willingly choose to work in this profession but their circumstances force them to.
While there are no brothels operating in the State openly, the truth is they exist. The face of this profession has now completely changed and so, it has become difficult for police to rescue the victims. The expanse of the profession is such that the police and authorities can only take action in a limited manner. The advancement of technology has made these illegal operations easier to arrange. Infact, there are some hotels which are known specifically for prostitution. With a strong yet silent backing for this profession, it would be a great challenge for the government to put a stop to it. A social worker had also demanded to legalise the profession given the rise in the rate of sexual offenses against women in the State. The young generation is being misled into the world of fantasies thanks to easy access to such content on social media. One must understand that prostitution is illegal in India and it is unfortunate that there is no intimidation of law.
