NEW DELHI – The Supreme Court today expressed unhappiness over the efforts of various states for the rehabilitation of three million sex workers across the country even as Punjab and Haryana maintained that there were no red light areas in the two states but acknowledged there were thousands of prostitutes.
Describing the affidavits filed by the state governments as “vague and too general,” a Bench comprising Justices Markandey Katju and Gyan Sudha Misra directed them to come forward with specific schemes for giving technical training to sex workers, who wanted to get out of the rut they were in.
“The states should not only come out with schemes but also “demonstrate their commitment” by producing “concrete results, at least in phases. So by the next date (August 24) we expect the state counsels to come out with some effective feedback whether at least a few sex workers have been offered any alternative employment,” the Bench said in an order.
The 10-page order began with a Mirza Ghalib couplet explaining the plight of teenaged girls trapped in prostitution like the chicks getting trapped in the hunters’ net in their first attempt to fly out of their nests.
In their affidavits, Punjab and Haryana have acknowledged that there were sex workers despite the fact that there was no demarcated area for them.
Punjab put the total number of female sex workers at 20,253 who were “home-based and scattered” across the state. The state Social Welfare Board would provide technical/vocational training in garment marking and other skills to all sex workers willing to be rehabilitated, while the help of NGOs would be taken for creating a market for the products, claimed Punjab.
A protection home was open at Jalandhar where the inmates, including rape victims, were being provided free boarding, lodging and medical facilities, besides vocational training. The state was also implementing the Ujjawala scheme of the Centre meant for their rehabilitation.
Haryana also said it was following the Ujjawala scheme, but did not give the number of sex workers in the state.
Pointing out that sex workers were “unfortunate girls” who were driven to the trade due to “terrible poverty,” the apex court advised the society not to look down upon them and rather have sympathy for them.
