Selling Innocence: Sonagachi's Girls Learn Trade in Prostitution as Poverty Persists
The girls in the age group of 12 to 17 years are not attending regular schools but are being groomed to please men and earn money through prostitution.
In Sonagachi, a mother's role goes beyond nurturing her child and instilling values. It's a place where she also teaches her daughter the harsh realities of the world and the art of selling herself. Here, the daughter's education is not limited to books but also encompasses the skills required to survive in Asia's second-largest red-light district.
The girls in the age group of 12 to 17 years are not attending regular schools but are learning a different kind of trade. They are being groomed to please men and earn money through prostitution. The Kothi Dalal, who runs the brothels, pays them 150 rupees for one person as their charges for the sex work.
This unique scenario is a result of poverty, desperation, and exploitation. The girls come from impoverished backgrounds and are forced into this trade by their circumstances. They see no other way out of their problems, but are preparing themselves for prostitution as a means of survival.
The mother's role in this scenario is complex. She teaches her daughter the customs of the world, which includes how to survive in Sonagachi. She also instills shame in her daughter, perhaps as a coping mechanism for herself or as a way to protect her daughter from further exploitation. However, in this environment, shame is relative, and it's often replaced by survival instincts.
The situation in Sonagachi is a stark reminder that poverty and exploitation can lead to unimaginable consequences. It highlights the need for social reforms and policies that address the root causes of poverty and provide alternative means of livelihood for these vulnerable communities. Until then, girls in Sonagachi will continue to learn the art of selling themselves, till the West Bengal government is prepared to protect them.
