Prostitution in Mumbai

1.2 billion people live in India, 14 million in Mumbai and of these round about 100,000 -150,000 women sell their body every night; most of them in Kamathipura, a neighbourhood downtown. At first glance, Kamathipura does not look like one of the biggest red light districts the world. During the day the streets look normal and even by night you would not know that this is not a nice place to be for women. The women in Kamathipura do not look like prostitutes, as we know them, with white boots or heels, short skirts or tiny tops. Only the bright make-up or the slightly more coloured saris tell them apart from how normal women would dress in India. Even the pimps, watching over their prostitutes are not conspicuous, not wearing gold chains or flashy clothes. They sit peacefully in front of the shops to watch the action; women of all ages live hidden behind the shops. They're creatures of the night, remaining inside during the day, only waiting for night to come.

Hardly any of the women are here voluntarily. They were taken away from their villages by neighbours, by their own parents or sold after they had become widows, disowned by the family of the deceased husband.

Nowadays thousands of girls are given as servants to the gods in the temples. This is a centuries-old ritual mainly practised in southern India. It is believed that by sacrificing the dearest thing they have, their family will gain wealth and prosper. The only thing that actually happens is that the priests sell the girls on to pimps or brothels.

For the first night with a pretty girl, suitors pay up to 10,000 rupees (167 Euros) - without a condom. HIV-positive clients hope to be healed by having sex with a virgin.

When all resistance is broken, the women are allowed to leave the brothel and offer themselves in the street. The clients pay around 100 rupees (1.60 Euros) for their services.

The prostitution laws in India are rather confusing, but pimping and public solicitation is certainly illegal. The women have to be on their guard. If a person for no apparent reason sits or stands on the street, he or she will be punished. What happens behind closed doors in the brothels does not interest the police.

Everyday more and more women sell themselves and “The Ministry for Women and Children Development” estimates that the number of prostitutes has doubled in the last ten years. Nowadays 2.8 million women work in the industry all across the country.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLAqYT0QjUo

http://www.pucl.org/from-archives/Child/prostitution.htm

http://lifestyle.iloveindia.com/lounge/brothels-in-india-1692.html

http://www.hum-coolie.com/child-prostitution.htm