These days we are having quite some interesting discussions going on in our German class. These are usually based on very interesting social aspects like Child Education, Vacation and various other topics like alternative medicines and their influence on our life. Though the main aim in the German class is not to make us aware of these social problems or provide us with interesting topics to brood over, it does influence my mind and my thinking during the day to day activities that i do.
Last week i saw a really heart rendering sight. It might not be what many people would find amusing. Most might not even agree that there was anything heart-rending in what i am about to describe. However, I am sure who ever is doing it, is doing it because there is a very good reason to do so. The scene - Heavy rain is pouring down with all its vengeance on the pothole ridden streets of Bangalore. On the dark corner are standing a few girls who are inordinately dressed in dresses which neither suit the climate or the location. They don't seem too happy about standing there but stand there trying to manage their makeup in spite of the wrath being showered by the rain gods. Some are negotiating with potential customers, some of whom shamelessly are feeling them, as one would normal touch and feel a vegetable in the Saturday market before deciding to purchase it. Yes, I am talking of the scores of Sex-workers, Prostitutes or any other sick name in the abundant set of Indian languages.
I am sure many of you who belong to the class of people, who consider even reading the word "Sex" is a crime would have started creating opinions about me. However, Opinions are like assholes, everyone has one and it stinks to the other!!. I am sure that the girls standing on the side of the road on that cold evening were not thinking about making money but rather were perhaps trying to make their ends meet. It is quite clear, that on an evening when most of us would love to sit in our houses and drink a cup of hot tea, let alone venture out in the cold rain, these ladies or girls ( some of them being too young to qualify to be called ladies) were standing that side of the street, upholding their bosoms just to attract the potential customers. Yeah, they have to do this else most would just feel them an leave. It is such a sick thing that this is all being done just to meet their frugal needs and to ensure that some of their loved ones are not dragged into this flesh trade. Neither do these Sex workers get proper education nor do they have a regular income. Use of condoms and ensuring safe sex is a luxury that these beings can barely afford.
My question is very simple. Are they also not doing a job like any of us? I am sure the highly critical would start protesting that we are selling our skills while doing our job and not our body. India being a highly cultural land, we are not supposed to do such things!! Bullshit!! Hunger or basic necessities in life do not understand the borders of land or greatness of our culture. When a girl ( these days guys too) have nothing else to offer, they can offer their bodies. Sickly enough, we have enough buyers in both categories to buy these wares that are for offering. This brings us to the pointed question - Should this be banned? For whatever reasons!! Maybe we turn passionate towards prevention and revival of our culture or maybe we realize that Sex-workers are leading a life no better than slaves in the yesteryears and try to uplift them...However, the question still remains...should we ban them?
This question has been lingering in my mind, not because i am a pervert but because i wonder if banning solves the root cause. The Root cause is that there are lot of girls who are not able to make their ends meet by any other means or because they have already become a part of the so called "Dirty" class of the society and can no more come out of it. Instead of banning which anyway will do no good and ensure that our law enforcers can further more extort these people, how would it be if we legalized the whole things. Provided the Sex-workers with a decent identification, ensure that their kids go to decent schools...make laws for them by which they can ensure that condoms are used, ensure that they get proper medical care and social recognition when needed. I am sure that such topics would mean shaking up the hornet's nest but these are hard issues that one needs to think over and come up with solutions that can really stand the test of time.
I find it funny that we all live in the society, understand the problems and most of the time know the root cause...but unfortunately try to choose the solution that is the most inappropriate, inadequate and sometimes introduces further social problems....
Food for thought...ain't it??
