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Poverty pushes minor girls into prostitution in India
NEW DELHI, June 29: In dia » child prostitute popula tion, reputedly the world's largest, is growing alarmingly due to poverty and the tear of AIDS, according to authori ties and activists, reports AFP
Increasing numbers of young girls are being pushed into the flesh trade Dy poor families, and almost a quarter of India s estimated 2.3 mil lion prostitutes are minors under 18-years old, activists say
"Indu has the largest num ber of child prostitutes," said Khairati Lal Bhola, a crusader against prostitution and advisor to the government on the
subject "Child prostitution w increasing rapidly
What is the worth of a country where poverty forces people to trade then daugh ters for nee” asks 67-year-old Bhola who runs schools for children of prostitutes
And now people who fear AIDS are demanding young girls when they visit broth els," Bhola added "Naturally, the brothel keepers and pimps are forcing more and more girls into sex "
"There is definitely an increasing trend in child prosti tution," added Brinda Karat a left-wing activist
"Girls as young as 13 years of age are being forced into
the profession," she said.
Officials and activists blame grinding poverty and the feai of AIDS for the sudden spiral in child prostitution, along with governmental apathy and collusion of the police with pimps and brothel owners
Most prostitutes in the 1,000 plus red light districts across India are drawn from poor families and forced into the profession because of poverty, and end up earning meagre amounts in towns and cities
Then children, shunned by society frequently swell the sex trade ranks
Brinda said a drop in moral
values and increasing sexual perversion were also contributory factors.
"We are in an age where people want to have whatever they desire," she said. "For the mass of poor prostitution is. unfortunately, a survival strategy."
"Some men look for vir gins, so they abuse children Then there is police collusion and official apathy abductions of minors are not taken seriously," she said
The government insists it is concerned
"We are worried," said an officer in the Ministry of Hu man Resource Development. "It is wrong to say the gov
eminent is not bothered. We concede the matter demands more attention."
The activists are quick to challenge the claim.
"The government does not have the will," asserted Bhola, who moves with a police guard following attacks on him by brothel owners. "The police, everybody has a vested interest in prostitution."
"If the government wants, they can end child prostitution," he added
Women's groups say child prostitutes become mental and physical wrecks sooner than their adult counterparts
because they are abused more Many of the girls are from neighbouring Nepal and Bangladesh. Those who try to escape are beaten.
The government is being pressed by activists to set up a special police force to com bat prostitution, particularly the involvement of children as well as to outlaw sale of children in rural areas.
"But unless there is a radical change in government thinking, child prostitution is most unlikely to disappear," Brinda said.
"I think it will only go up in the time to come."