Former Supreme Court Justice Katju Advocates for Dignity and Support for India's Sex Workers, Urges Implementation of Vocational Training Programs
Prostitution is a taboo word in India. It is hardly ever mentioned among people, in the public discourse, among politicians, the so called ‘intellectuals’, in the educational institutions, or in the media, as if the unfortunate sex workers do not exist, or live on another planet, to be given a wide berth, like lepers in the past.
And yet the truth is that in 2007 the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development reported that there are over 3 million female sex workers in India, ( unofficial estimates are there are upto 10 million, many of them children ). India has one of the largest sex industries in the world, a 1 billion dollar one, and fast growing. In perhaps all cities in India there are ‘red light areas’, e.g. G.B. Road in Delhi, Sonagachi in Kolkata, Sonapur in Mumbai, and Meerganj in my home town Allahabad.
There is massive poverty in India, and most women and girls enter the flesh trade not because they enjoy it but due to abject poverty, to fill their stomachs, and once in it they are stigmatised forever, and can never get out, and have to live forever beyond the pale of ‘civilised’ society, which shuns them.
They live horrible lives, the brothel owners giving them little to eat or wear, and they are often brutally beaten by the latter or their customers.
In one of his great poems ( called Chakle ) the Urdu poet Sahir Ludhianvi writes poignantly about their plight :
” Ye Kooche Ye Neelaam-Ghar Dil-Kashi Ke
Ye Lutate Hue Kaarvaan Zindagi Ke
Kahaan Hain Kahaan Hain Muhaafiz Khudi Ke
Sanaa-Khwaan-E-Taqdees-E-Mashriq Kahaan Hain
Ye Pur-Pench Galiyaan Ye Be-Khwaab Baazaar
Ye Gumnaam Raahi Ye Sikkon Ki Jhankaar
Ye Ismat Ke Saude Ye Saudon Pe Takraar
Sana- Khwaan-E-Taqdees-E-Mashriq Kahaan Hain
Ta’ffun Se Pur Neem-Raushan Ye Galiyaan
Ye Masli Hui Adh-Khuli Zard Kaliyaan
Ye Bikti Hui Khokhli Rang-Raliyaan
Sana-Khwaan-E-Taqdees-E-Mashriq Kahaan Hain
Wo Ujle Dareechon Mein Paayal Ki Chhan-Chhan
Tanaffus Ki Ulajhan Pe Tabale Ki Dhan-Dhan
Ye Be-Rooh Kamron Mein Khaansi Ki Dhan-Dhan
Sanaa Khwaan-E-Taqdees-E-Mashriq Kahaan Hain
Ye Goonje Huwe Qah-Qahe Raaston Par
Ye Chaaron Taraf Bheed Si Khidkiyon Par
Ye Aawaazen Khinchte Huwe Aanchalon Par
Sana-Khwaan-E-Taqdees-E-Mashriq Kahaan Hain
Ye Phoolon Ke Gajre, Ye Peekon Ke Chheente
Ye Be-Baak Nazaren, Ye Gustaakh Fiqre
Ye Dhalke Badan Aur Ye Madqooq Chehre
Sana-Khwaan-E-Taqdees-E-Mashriq Kahaan Hain
Ye Bhookhi Nigaahen Haseenon Ki Jaanib
Ye Badhte Huwe Haath Seenon Ki Jaanib
Lapakte Huwe Paanv Zeenon Ki Jaanib
Sana-Khwaan-E-Taqdees-E-Mashriq Kahaan Hain
Yahaan Peer Bhi Aa Chuke Hain Jawaan Bhi
Tano-Mand Bete Bhi, Abbaa Miyaan Bhi
Ye Beewi Bhi Hai Aur Bahan Bhi Hai, Maan Bhi
Sana-Khwaan-E-Taqdees-E-Mashriq Kahaan Hain
Madad Chaahti Hai Ye Hawwa Ki Beti
Yashodha Ki Ham Jins Raadha Ki Beti
Payambar Ki Ummat Zulaikha Ki Beti
Sana-Khwaan-E-Taqdees-E-Mashriq Kahaan Hain
Zara Mulk Ke Rah-Baron Ko Bulaao
Ye Galiyaan Ye Kooche Ye Manzar Dikhaao
Sana-Khwaan-E-Taqdees-E-Mashriq Ko Laao
Sana-Khwaan-E-Taqdees-E-Mashriq Kahaan Hain ”.
The plight of sex workers has been depicted in Indian and world literature, as mentioned below :
In the facebook post below I referred to a case, Buddhadeb Karmaskar vs State of West Bengal, which my bench ( with Justice Gyan Sudha Mishra ) decided in the Supreme Court. The ghastly facts of the case are mentioned in the fb post, hence I am not repeating hem.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=652735931433623&id=506252812748603
In that decision I said that sex workers are also entitled to a life of dignity, in view of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, and directed the central and all state governments to frame schemes to give some vocational training to them, so that they could earn their bread by some vocation instead of by selling their bodies.
I retired from the Supreme Court soon after passing the above order, but another bench of the Court hearing the same case gave further directions in the matter
Things being as they are in India, I doubt my order will be implemented ( except paying some lip service to it ), but at least I have the satisfaction of doing my little bit, and creating some awareness in the public about the plight, tribulations and travails of these unfortunate women and girls