''Clients visiting Indian brothels are likely to face a jail term of three months and a fine of Rs 20,000 if Cabinet accepts the recommendation of a group of ministers
The government is likely to accept an amendment to the Immoral Trafficking (Prevention) Act which could mean a jail term and fine for clients visiting brothels.
“The group of ministers has already decided about the provisions of jail term and penalty. It will soon be presented to Cabinet for approval and implementation on the field,” said Khairati Lal Bhola, member, central advisory committee of the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
The amendment was moved with the aim of curbing trafficking of women into prostitution. According to Bhola, ministers believe that penalising clients will also help control the spread of HIV/AIDS.
As per the amendment, clients will invite a jail term of three months or a fine of Rs 20,000 or both for their first offence. Repeat offenders will pay a penalty of Rs 50,000 or a six-month jail term.
The Bill was moved in Parliament by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in 2006 and has been kept pending for two years.
There has been some criticism of the amendment by activists who say that criminalising paid sex will not help sex workers. Last month, in June 2008, activists wrote an open letter to Congress President Sonia Gandhi urging her to re-think the proposed amendment...''The situation of sex workers in the country today has not improved as it should have.
The focus is still on eradicating the phenomenon instead of trying to structure it in such a way that it works for every party.
National activist groups have raised their voices against this amendment, arguing that it will not protect the rights of the sex workers.
Their say is that this will not protect the women in prostitution but make them more vulnerable in many ways.
The legalization of prostitution is being cited as the only way to resolve the issue. Once legalized, there will be laws protecting the rights of the sex workers and giving them the right to freedom or selection and action. This will give power to women to work according to their self rules and norms.
What the government needs to do is take a more empathetic stand and play a more democratic role when dealing with the livelihood of these women. They need to think in a progressive manner and be open to change. To see what is beneficial in the long term rather than what the ''moral police'' has to say.
