If you can't amend it,accept it.That seems to be the mantra of the noble minds rooting for legalizing prostitution in India. Their defense: its world's oldest profession (so probably it needs to be preserved),legalizing it will bring down the rate of human trafficking,spread of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) etc. and many progressive economies have already legalized it(The Netherlands,Canada,Wales,Australia, Israel etc).Some with an economic bent of mind suggest that if the prostitution 'industry' be recognized, it would contribute constructively to national GDP.Sounds seductively speculative.
Well its not going to be yet another prosaic assimilation of what our much hyped value systems preach,nor will this write-up deal with the hypocrite conventional social framework of a chaste 'good' girl.What bothers the pulp out of me is that with the 'world's oldest profession' getting legal sanctity,will it not create the mad rush among women, and men,young and old,poor and not so poor for the highly lucrative career (alternate or full time,depending upon your commitments), one that doesn't require any textbook erudite nor an inherent personality trait.Its baffling how and why the proponents of this novel idea of legalizing prostitution missed this underlying remedy for unemployment.
Technically speaking,prostitution is not illegal in India; public solicitation is.Legalizing prostitution would presumably legalize public solicitation too,and without riding a moral high ground,lets think pragmatically,would we relish living in a neighborhood dotted with ladies soliciting overtly or covertly with hackneyed pimps in tow,sharing their spoils? Personal dignity is indeed independent of person's choice of profession,but would a civilized society,or any society for that matter respect a career of prostitution.By no means should this translate to social ostracisation,but prostitution as a legalized vocation calls for social censure.Its easy for us to sit in cushioned environs and speak of social stigma when most of us sheepishly whisk our children away at the slightest mention of sex.A uniform social order is alright,but going by that constricted solitary logic and myopic vision,doesn't it precedes the calls for legalizing burglary (since the police force is understaffed),bribery(since corruption is our middle name),adulteration in foodstuffs(since we are immune to it anyway) and piracy (since we love our cinema ever so much)?Doesn't it guarantee, in due course of time a crime free state,since all the 'crimes' would be a part of State legislature anyway?How's that for an 'inclusive' democracy?
Will legalizing prostitution improve the living conditions of the famous GB Road and Sonigachi?The answer lies somewhere in that term called political will.The law doesn't prohibit sex workers to ask for better living conditions nor does it abstain Governments to address their plight.The habitual nonchalance of governance can't be a reason to legalize anything that falls within the purview of constitutional definition of 'criminal activity' .Will it stop human trafficking?The answer is a resounding no. Law abiding citizens that we are ,given our proclivity to push and shove and spit and cuss at every given or created opportunity,to think that a lengthy legislative literature would miraculously abdicate us of our inherent virtuoso is the stuff mooney,lobotomized teenage dreams are made of.Once legalized,it will be lot easier for unscrupulous agents to traffic gullible girls (minors included) into flesh trade,hoodwinking them into believing that its alright to shun their extreme penury for a much higher paid 'legal profession'.What happens to these girls when they decide to call it a day?Retirement bonus/pension from the Government/patrons?New job?Changing the definition doesn't alter the demeanor and with a CV that proudly mentions the world's oldest profession as the incumbent's solitary experience and expertise,wonder which public pr private enterprise will favor them.If that's still a stigma,then so be it,but legalizing it won't erase it.Never.As far as the spread of STDs go,awareness camps by NGOs and initiatives by the Health Ministry can cut down the risk,probably more effectively than creating yet another law.
In a nation where morality,a highly individualistic and subjective factor becomes a defining systematic phenomenon,the copycat idea of legalizing prostitution is inherently and intricately flawed.Whether hey do it by choice or otherwise,objectification and harassment of sex workers is strictly unacceptable.Dignity is an individual's propriety and is independent of cliched trammels of social definitions.That however doesn't legalize the act.The evangelists of the supposed revolutionary cause would do well to channelize their reserves towards ensuring better life and after life of sex workers ,rather than legalizing their misfortunes and asking them to live and die with that celebrated cross.The thin line between the immoral and the illegal does exist,and the advocates of prostitution must not be willfully and blissfully ignorant to its glaring existence.Sometimes there are no grey areas, only black and whites and some red lights of course.
PS : In a free world of legalized prostitution,a strapping, shaking teenager approaches a cop coyly ,"That pimp across the subway asks for Rs.1500 while the 'rate' is Rs.1000.This is corruption!"
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