Should Prostitution be made legal in India or not?

Introduction:
Prostitution-the oldest profession on this earth is a widespread and contentious issue for INDIA. Prostitution is the business or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment.

Present Legal status in India:

In India It is a Sexual Intercourse between socially inacceptable unions, and is punishable for 3 years / 2000 ` fine under Immoral Traffic Prevention Act which is a 1986 amendment to the primary law passed in 1950 {known as the Immoral Traffic (Suppression) Act}. If a woman uses attributes of her body voluntarily then its legal and allowed. But the law prohibits/criminalize Prostitution anywhere near a public place Publication of phone number of call girls Organized form of prostitution i.e. a brothel, pimps, Prostitution rings etc. A sex worker being below 18 years of age Procurement and trafficking of women, children.

Ancient root:
In ancient India, there was a practice of having Nagarvadhus, "brides of the town". (Can be found in many of our Sanskrit-stories like Mricchakatika- by Sudraka in 2nd century BC.) Prostitution groomed in India during 16th century Portuguese colonization in GOA and 17-18th century British east India company period.

FACTS to FACE:
In India close to three million women work as prostitutes, of which 1.2 million are below 18. The number of prostitutes rose by 50% between 1997 and 2004. Increasing STD (sexually transmitted diseases) and health related problems due to prostitution. India has an HIV/AIDS population of approximately 1.4-1.6 million people making it the world's third-largest population suffering from HIV/AIDS & Asias largest sex industry centre. Increase in the rate of Child trafficking over the years.

Why should we legalize & regulate it?

Reasons are: Supreme Court of India in December, 2009 asked the govt. If you are not able to curb it by laws then legalize it. SC added that- legalizing prostitution would help monitor the trade and rehabilitate sex workers. Lets have a simple calculation : If there are 2 million prostitutes in India and if each earns 1000 ` a day, then this leads to a total of ` 200 crore revenue a day and roughly ` 72,000 crore a year. By legalizing, government can earn a decent tax on this revenue, which will be beneficial to the countrys economy. Legalizing will ensure a secure & safe future for sex-workers, their children and those whore involved in this.

 Government can implement some rules which may include - Registration of each sex-worker - Licensing of brothels, dalals, removal of middle-man - Mandatory checks in order to ensure safety for the sex-workers - Girl/child less than 18 years can be prevented from entering into this profession. These measures will lead to decrease in - STD/HIV Disease spread - Child trafficking, - women harassment, sexual violence, rape etc There are some countries in which legalization of prostitution not only worked miracle but they have been able to curb STDs : - Brazil - Amsterdam (Netherland) - New Zealand - Thailand - The Philippines and many more..

Why shouldnt we legalize it?

Reasons are: To legalize prostitution would lead to gender inequality. Majority of prostitutes in India are women. By legalizing, we openly commit ourselves to the notion that female body is a commodity that can be bought by men for money/sexual desires. Also its not a profession that should be promoted in India. Because many of the sex-workers choose this as an Absence of choice. Due to drug addiction, economical problems etc.

 By legalizing we would be declaring this as a profession to earn that is hazardous to higher educational goals of young generation. It will become legitimate excuse for teenagers to start dropping out from colleges; will lead to loss of valuable workers/professionals. If we consider the handsome amount of tax that govt will get after legalizing it, one question opposes this source of income: Will they pay tax after the legalization? Spread of contagious diseases, High risk of exposure to street crimes, unsafe sex, and unemployment. Many legally young women would see this as a fast way to earn money .Would you want your daughter/sister to think like that in the future? Increase in Divorce rates, hidden-illegal street prostitution. It will be like putting a band-aid on a wound which will further expand this industry instead of curbing it. Legalizing prostitution will provoke the religious sentiments of Indian culture.

Conclusion: Despite the traditional mindset and plethora of reasons for not legalizing it, if we look at the current scenario prostitution in India is here to stay, difficult to curb 100 %. Theres a strong need for a law-structure to regulate it.

Source of data/facts/reference sites are : http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5140526.stm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution_in_India#cite_note-17 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HIV_in_India http://www.paklinks.com/gs/all-views/488889-countries-that-have-legalprostitution.html http://articles.cnn.com/2009-0511/world/india.prostitution.children_1_human-trafficking-indiaprostitutes?_s=PM:WORLD Human Rights Report: India(2008)