© Kamla-Raj 2014 Anthropologist, 17(2): 591-598 (2014) Trafficking of Children for Prostitution in West Bengal: A Qualitative Study
Sonal Pandey
Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, West Bengal, India
KEYWORDS Sex Trafficking. Qualitative Research. Child. Prostitution. Delinquent Behavior. West Bengal
ABSTRACT The objective of the current study is to examine the context and processes of sex trafficking of children for brothel-based prostitution in West Bengal. The present paper is based on a qualitative design and thematic analysis of the primary data collected from the sex trafficked victims who have been rescued from the brothels. Four major pathways of trafficking have been identified for the children: employment induced trafficking, lure of better opportunities in the urban areas, façade of romantic relations, and run away children who easily succumb to the bait of traffickers. Based on the findings of the study certain policy recommendations have been suggested.
INTRODUCTION eastern states with the southern states of the country (Sen 2004). Migration from Bangladesh, West Bengal has emerged as focal point of Nepal, and Bhutan, and within the country from activity for sex trafficking (ST) of children for the states referred to earlier, has been in exist- brothel-based prostitution in India (Deb et al. ence for long. 2011; Hameeda et al. 2010; Sen 2004). The traf- The attributes to ST are both socio-econom- ficking of children in brothel-based prostitution ic as well as accidental. The extreme poverty con- has assumed serious proportions in the state of ditions often lead women and children to explore West Bengal (India) at the interstate as well as livelihood where they become easy prey to traf- intrastate level and across the porous interna- fickers who trap them in their interest by making tional borders. The districts of South and North false promises of comfortable livelihood. In acci- 24 Parganas, Nadia, Murshidabad, Malda, Dar- dental or situational trafficking, women and chil- jeeling, Coochbehar, Jalpaiguri and Uttar Dina- dren leave their families in protest to emotional jpur, Howrah, Midnapore, and Birbhum have been breakdown to regular impalpable hurting com- identified as potential supply centres of ST in ments or sarcastic remarks, broken close rela- Bengal (Chakraborty 2006). The state shares in- tionship including loving relations. Low level of ternational borders with Nepal, Bangladesh, and literacy is another facilitating factor for ST in Bhutan, and has the state borders with Sikkim, Bengal, for its debilitating effect on potential vic- Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Assam. The traf- tims who fail to read between the lines and un- fickers effectively capitalize on the contiguous derstand the real motives of traffickers. Despite borders with these countries for trafficking wom- Sarba Siksha Karyakram (movement for educa- en and children to adjoining places. Kolkata, the tion to all), the status of girl’s enrolment in schools capital city of the state, is not only the trade, and the ratio of drops-out in comparison to male industrial and cultural hub of eastern India, but children continues to be a matter of concern. also serves as the centre connecting the north- Gender discrimination, location of schools at far distances, adverse students-teachers ratio, in- different attitude of teachers, recruitment of Address for correspondence: teachers on political consideration, lack of school Sonal Pandey infrastructure, engagement of girls in domestic Senior Research Fellow Department of Humanities and Social Sciences works and sibling care are some of the stumbling Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur blocks for girls in accessing education West Bengal 721302, India (Chakraborty 2006). A considerable portion of Telephone: +91 3222 281770 (O) trafficking also occurs in guise of employment Fax: +91 3222 282270/255303 E-mail: [email protected], and marriage (Ghosh 2009). The persistence of [email protected]. extreme poverty, low level of education, maternal 592 SONAL PANDEY mortality, and maternal malnutrition are the im- or of the giving or receiving of payments or ben- portant factors that have contributed to the high efits to achieve the consent of a person having incidence of child marriage in the state. The first control over another person, for the purpose of generation victims turned traffickers entice the exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a teenagers from the villages presenting herself minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of before them as a role model. The girls already others or other forms of sexual exploitation, engaged in the prostitution in Mumbai from the forced labour or services, slavery or practices state, have also been found coming back to their similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of hometowns to take more girls and force them into organs (Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Pun- prostitution, sometimes even with the consent ish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women of their parents (Sen 2004). Furthermore, lan- and Children, Supplementing the United Na- guage also acts as a potent facilitator in perpetu- tions Convention Against Transnational Orga- ating trafficking from across the borders. It is nized Crime 2000).” almost difficult to detect the presence of foreign The term ‘child’ is used as defined by United traffickers and trafficked victims, as most of them Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child are well conversant with the language of the state. Article 1 as “every human being below the age Bengali-the language of the state is also, the lan- of 18 years unless, under the law applicable to guage of Bangladesh, which camouflages the the child, majority is attained earlier” (UNICEF identity of the Bangladeshi nationals in West 1989). Bengal. “Victim” denotes someone who has been the The objective of the study is to examine the victim of a crime and does not refer to the per- factors propelling the trafficking of children for son’s agency or any other characteristics brothel-based prostitution in the state. (Bnunovskis and Surtees 2012).
Terms and Definition METHODOLOGY
Analyses of adult sex work are fiercely con- The present paper is based on a qualitative tested and there is a wide-ranging debate about design and thematic analysis of the primary data terminology, levels of control, and the nature of collected from ST victims who have been res- sex work (Montogemory 2009). The global stance cued from the brothels by the Child Welfare Com- seems divided on sex work yielding dichotomous mittee (CWC) Kolkata and placed at different rubric. The Abolitionist framework views all pros- Non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Re- titution as exploitative, violative of women’s search on ST victims in brothel establishments rights and dignity, and advocates unequivocally is a challenging task, as identifying and reach- for its abolition as an effective remedy. While, ing them, is a very troublesome and problematic the second perspective argues for choice in the instigating risk of various kinds to the research- rights domain considering it as a source of earn- er as well as the subjects. Reaching such co- ing or a viable livelihood option consciously horts via support service providers was the best made on the part of a female. They demand state plausible solution as it became convenient to patronage to prostitution industry and are approach as well as persuade them to share their against abolition of sex industry. Drawing upon experiences as victims find it difficult to confide the abolitionist framework, for the purpose of to a stranger. Social workers mediated this dis- current research, all kinds of sex work is referred trust and facilitated rapport building. Part of the to as trafficking as per the recent United Nations data was also collected using anthropological Protcol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Traf- tenet of ‘key informants’. Key informants for this ficking in Persons, Especially Women and Chil- study were the NGOs’ personnel’s, and counse- dren, 2000 (here after referred to as Palermo Pro- lors and other stakeholders who provided major tocol). The definition of the trafficking as en- insights on the phenomenon of trafficking of shrined in Article 3 (a) is: children in the state. “The recruitment, transportation, transfer, Sanlaap is a specialist NGO dedicated to the harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of protection of children trafficked into ST. It has the threat or use of force or other forms of coer- four shelter houses for survivors of ST in and cion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the around Kolkata, as well as numerous drop-in- abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability centres in red light areas. This research was con- TRAFFICKING OF CHILDREN FOR PROSTITUTION IN WEST BENGAL 593 ducted at the Narenrdrapur shelter home just retrospective study of the victims, which may be outside Kolkata. The Mahima Aftercare Home is equally meaningful, if not more. The study was another specialist organization working in the designed in the backdrop of the WHO ethical area of victim protection and assistance. The and safety recommendations for interviewing traf- major activities of the Mahima Home includes, ficked women (Zimmerman and Watts 2003). but are not limited to accomplish rehabilitation Moreover, ethical approval for the study was of the child ST victims through structure, coun- obtained from the superintendent of the shelters seling, education, vocational training, and spiri- and the ethical review board of Indian Institute tual development. Thirty respondents were iden- of Technology Kharagpur (India). The study, tified for the study. All of the respondents were thus, involved retrospective qualitative analy- trafficked for brothel-based prostitution. Major- sis of information collected through qualitative ity of the victims were Indian nationals (n=25) interviews. while five were Bangladeshi nationals. The age The data were collected from the inmates of of the girls fell in the range of 15-23 years. Six of the NGOs during the month of February and May them were married before entry into the sex trade. 2012 as a part of fieldwork for the doctoral dis- The demographic details of the victims have sertation of the author. The sampling was pur- been presented in Table 1. posive and convenient. Prior engagement in brothel-based prostitution was the primary in- Table 1: Socio-demographic profile of the respon- dents clusion criterion. Interview schedule and obser- vation were the major tools of data collection. Age When Trafficked (Yrs) Below 15 15-18 Purpose of the study was described, in brief, to 2 0 1 0 the respondents and their informal consent was Nationality Indian Bangladeshi 2 5 5 obtained for the purpose. The subjects had the Marital Status Single Married privilege to withdraw from the interview process 2 6 5 at any moment in case of discomfort. The safety Religion Hindu Muslim and well-being of each participant were given 2 1 9 Duration of Stay at 0-6 6-12 utmost priority throughout the interview process. Brothel Caution, care, and sensitivity were maintained (Months) during each interview. In case, during the inter- 2 0 1 0 view, if the participant appeared to be uncom- Education No schooling Primary fortable or emotionally distraught, the interview 2 3 7 was interrupted and the participant was given Source: Field data adequate time to regain composure or to discon- tinue the interview voluntarily. Initially, the researcher intended to apply the Confidentiality and anonymity were further participant observation method for the study, for ensured in the research process. All participants its advantage of systematic noting and record- had a participant number for reference. Masking ing of events, and observing their behaviours, participants’ names in the data provided ano- and artifacts (objects) at the setting of the study nymity to them. Interviews were conducted to (Chaulagai 2009). It also seemed to be the most obtain information regarding basic demography, appropriate tool given the exploratory nature of trafficking history, and experience of entry into the research to bring out, in-depth information the trade (that is, recruitment), health issues and about the individual experiences (Simkhada working and living environment. The issue be- 2008). The researcher explored the possibility of ing sensitive, and in view of methodological lim- residing in a shelter home for some period to itations (Bosworth et al. 2011; Godziak 2008; establish informal intimacy and rapport to un- Harrison 2006; Brennan 2005), flexibility and sen- fold facts not known so far in view of the clan- sitivity were assured in terms of wording and destine nature of ST operations. ST being a sen- inclusion/exclusion of specific theme to avoid sitive issue, the superintendent of the shelter emotional derangement of an individual homes was too reluctant to permit the researcher (Brunovskis and Surtees 2012). Interviews last- due to the issues of security, identity, and sec- ed for 30-40 minutes with each respondent. Fo- ondary victimization of the victims. This neces- cus group discussion (FGD) as envisaged in the sitated a rectification in the research plan for a primary plan was also dropped later as some of 594 SONAL PANDEY the respondents were not comfortable with this point and disappeared. After a while, he re- idea and were reluctant to share their history in turned and took me to a building seemed to be presence of other inmates. Subsequently, one to old. I looked around with curiosity to find high- one interview was held in front of the counselor. rise buildings as shown in movies. We went in- While collecting data, a research log was main- side that building with a dim light. A well- tained to create a research database to increase dressed woman came to receive me; she seemed the construct validity and reliability of the study to be extremely polite and enquired about my and maintain a chain of evidence revealing an- family and whereabouts. Her positive retort, swers to the research questions. Theoretical sam- made me hopeful of securing the work I was pling, thick description, and peer debriefing were promised. She welcomed me inside and after a employed to establish scientific rigor. The qual- while, she thanked the man and assured him of itative data collected from the field were tran- my well-being in his next visit. She seemed very scribed, that is, they were typed (from interviews, cordial and generous, offered me food and even and observational notes) into word processing some cold drink (a luxury in rural villages). documents. The verbatim transcripts of the in- Later, she took me inside a room, asked me to terviews (in Bengali-the language of the inter- make myself comfortable, and said I can begin viewees) were translated in English to identify my work from tomorrow. Later, in the evening major themes for analysis. The researcher then one of the girls secretly dropped in and warned carefully read the transcribed data, line by line, me about the kind of work I was supposed to do, and divided the data into meaningful analytical which left me awestruck. I just felt betrayed. I units (that is segmenting the data). When mean- immediately ran outside then a man got hold of ingful segments were located, they were coded. me, struck me hard, and took me inside. I shout- The coding was done by marking the segments ed and cried but in vain. I was beaten with leath- of data with symbols, descriptive words, or cat- er belts continuously for 6-7 days when I suc- egory names. After coding, the data were the- cumbed.” matically analyzed according to the objectives Aisha (22 years) described: of the study. “My husband worked as a casual labor and would often be without employment for weeks. RESULTS My brother-in-law promised me to get a job in Dhaka (Bangladesh). One day he came to me Analysis of the data highlighted four promi- and said that one of his friends is going to Dha- nent themes propelling the trafficking of children ka next day and he can arrange some work for into brothel-based prostitution: Employment in- me there. I was quite elated to find this opportu- duced trafficking, lure of better opportunities in nity. Next day I left with that man and we board- the urban areas, façade of romantic relations, and ed a bus. The man gave me ‘singara’ (local run away children who become easy prey to the snack) to eat and I got unconscious and fell traffickers’ ambush. It is common for girls from asleep. When I gained my conscious, I realised poor background to supplement their family in- that it was not Dhaka as some people were come through such work and any such potential speaking Hindi too. I grew alarmed but that opportunity is immediately grabbed without fail. man kept steady and took me to a roadside small Sadly, traffickers cash in on this fact to hook dhaba (roadside eatery). After a while, another their prey. Increasingly, children are tricked or man came to meet me. His gaze was quite in- duped under the pretext of finding suitable jobs truding which made me uncomfortable. Later, in urban cities. Probable bait is two square meals, they had some talk aside and the first man asked moderate income, and descent workload com- me to go with that man. I felt quite anxious but patible to their skills. the man (with whom I came) assured me that he Kabita (real name not disclosed) aged 17 knew this man and I could also trust him prom- years described: ising to return soon. That man called a taxi and “My neighbour promised me to arrange a we proceeded. The taxi stopped in a very con- job in Kolkata. Even after a long wait, I was not gested market place. We walked for a while and told about the job, I became suspicious. I was entered into a dilapidated building. The wom- always offered some excuses. After reaching an there warmly welcomed the man. They moved Kolkata, the contact person left me waiting at a to the room aside asking me to wait. Possibly, TRAFFICKING OF CHILDREN FOR PROSTITUTION IN WEST BENGAL 595 they made some negotiations and he left asking tective home environment. The traffickers secret- me to take care of myself. Although I have seen ly sold them to a brothel. The story of Nisha is a brothels in movies but I never knew one day I typical of such romantic façade. would land into one. I immediately sensed the “One day a friend of mine introduced me to danger I was in. I just begged the woman to let her distant cousin brother who lived in city. He me go but she would not listen. I was denied was quite good looking and far better than the food and water and locked in a small room for other boys from the village. He displayed lot of almost a week, when I succumbed to her com- interest in me that I also silently reciprocated. mands.” We began to meet secretly. My sister warned me Thus, employment induced trafficking has not to mingle too much with a stranger but I did been most frequently cited ploy used by the traf- not pay heed to any of her words. One day he fickers. However, some of the respondents who suggested let’s go to Kolkata. I denied so he got were already engaged in low paying jobs or ir- angry and replied that I do not trust him and all regular work were deceived under the pretext of that stuff. I felt very sorry to offend him and ‘better’ opportunities in urban areas. Few of the agreed to move with him. I knew my parents respondents reported being engaged in menial would not allow, so lied to them that I will be jobs such as working in sweat shops or domes- staying at my friends home for the day expect- tic enterprises. They were lured with lucrative ing to return home by evening. However, he sold employment opportunities yielding higher remu- me for Rs. 20000.” nerations or better alternatives then previous Thus, traffickers are adapting innovative one. The girls were ensured that they would be ways even a façade of romantic relations. allowed to return if they dislike the job or want to Besides, it has been found that delinquents change to another job. Some of my subjects were or run away children are also the potential tar- entrapped into the game of trafficking under the gets. The respondents reported that traffickers guise of better livelihood opportunities in the are on look out for such children in their sur- urban centres. roundings and trap them as soon as possible. Asha described: Most of the victims reported being come in con- “I use to work in dhaba (local motel) near tact with their traffickers at the bus stop or rail- my house. My job was cleaning the utensils. The ways stations in suburban areas. The traffickers job was very tiring and had to work for almost are shrewd to identify the runaway children due 12-13 hrs a day. I used to get exhausted by the to abusive home environment or non-conform- end of the day, while I was paid around five ing children often at conflict with their families. hundred bucks. There was man who frequented Traffickers approach them as caring and sympa- the dhaba, and was quite known visitor. He was thetic uncles/aunts consoling them with kind quite sympathetic towards and sometimes gen- words trying to seduce them through love and erously gave me some money. Once he also gave care. The young and naïve children fail to read me some old dresses to wear. One day he offered between the lines and fall easy prey to their bait. a job in Kolkata in some factory. He said that Savita recalled: monthly salary offered would be approximately “My father was alcoholic and spoilt all his six times higher than what I was currently earn- money on alcohol. Hence, there use to be fre- ing. I grew elated and readily agreed to move quent fight between my parents that I always up. However, he sold me to a brothel.” disliked. Sometimes my father hit my mother in- Thus, children already engaged in some re- cluding me and my siblings following which munerative work are trapped under the guise of there would lot of tension and sadness in my better alternatives and moved to urban cities. family. I gradually got tired to this episode and Few of the respondents also reported being disliked my home environment. One day I de- trapped under the facade of romantic relations. cided I had enough of it and stole 50 bucks from It has been reported that traffickers often pose my father’s pocket while he was asleep. I had as potential lovers and gain trust of the victims. seen lot many people from my village working After sometime, they persuade them to move in urban cities. I thought anything would be along with them to a city for a romantic trip. Many better than living in this abusive family. One times girls are so impelled by their promises that day when my parents were away from my home they secretly elope with them leaving the pro- I quietly took some clothes in a rugged bag and 596 SONAL PANDEY ran away from my home reaching bus station. fall easy prey to employment decoys which is However, I was quite baffled by the crowd at the common in trafficking for labor sector besides station. I asked people standing there about trafficking for brothel-based prostitution. the bus to Kolkata but no one gave me correct Facade of romantic relation has been found reply. After some time, a woman approached me to be the other common pathways into the ST and in an affectionate manner told me about via romantic partners, and friends as previously the bus. She said that she was also going to reported by Karandikar et al. (2011) and Simkha- Kolkata and I can come along with her. Pleased da (2008). Sale of the girls by romantic partners by her gestures I thought what’s wrong in sit- such as boyfriends or even by husbands is re- ting with her. We began talking and I told her curring event. Romantic relations easily motivate my whole story. Once at the destination, she young children and traffickers have effectively suggested that I could stay with her until I get capitalized on the fact where they pose as ro- some work. Though filled with inhibitions, lat- mantic partners gradually gaining their trust and er I agreed not knowing what to do, where to later sell them to the brothels. go. She was a brothel owner who forced me to Child neglect led to the victimization of one work at her brothel in Kolkata.” of few respondents where ill treatment by the Thus, delinquents or run away children are family forced her to leave the protective envi- also quite frequently victimized into ST for broth- ronment of family and run away. Run away child el-based prostitution. are easy targets for the traffickers. While trying to flee from home, she was intercepted by a traf- DISCUSSION ficker at nearby bus stand that divulge impor- tant information about the techniques of entrap- The particular contribution of the study is ment. Traffickers have been found to look out the contribution to the under researched area of for single adolescents near bus stand or railway context and processes of ST in Bengal. Four major stations. pathways of trafficking have been identified for Although India was one of the earliest par- the children: employment induced trafficking, lure ties to the Convention for the Suppression of of better opportunities in the urban areas, façade the Traffic in Persons and the Exploitation of of romantic relations, and run away children who the Prostitution of Others (1949), and claims to easily succumb to the bait of traffickers. Employ- have implemented this treaty within its domestic ment induced trafficking has been found to be legal system through the Suppression of Immor- one of the prominent themes as previously by al Traffic in Women and Girls Act (SITA) of 1956, (Vindhya and Dev 2011; Vindhya and Swathi subsequently amended and renamed the Immor- 2010). It has been found that recently agriculture al Traffic in Persons (Prevention) Act (ITPPA) is no more economically viable for many families of 1986, yet the problem of trafficking persists in rural areas due to the lowering water level and and studies suggest that thousands of girls and dissemination of new hybrid seeds. Thus, many women are trafficked every year for the purpose families are found to abandon agriculture and of commercial sexual exploitation, and forced to shifting to alternative venues of employment. servile in the conditions of slavery (Regmi 2006). Impact of loss of traditional means of livelihood Besides, the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860 has a for female children has been double barreled. number of provisions for penalizing perpetrators Firstly, it means decrement in investment on their for trafficking children, including Sections 372 welfare including education and well-being. Sec- and 373 that punish the sale and purchase of ondly, inflation coupled with the rising living minors for prostitution, and the Immoral Traffic costs has propelled their participation in eco- (Prevention) Act, 1956, Section 6, forbids the nomically productive venues outside their home detention of a person in premises where prosti- environment. Traffickers have been found to ef- tution is conducted (Deb et al. 2011). Yet, de- fectively capitalize on this fact where they target spite these existing legal avenues, trafficking of girls from impoverished families looking for such children for ST persists unbridled; goes virtual- opportunities. It is to be noted that people lack- ly unnoticed by law enforcement authorities due ing technical expertise or formal education often to numerous reasons. Major lacuna in Indian le- seek job via informal networks such as word of gal system is that it has limited itself to street mouth. Thus, the children including adults also prostitution and has stipulated harsh punishment TRAFFICKING OF CHILDREN FOR PROSTITUTION IN WEST BENGAL 597 for street prostitution though the provisions of ulated for trafficking children compared to the solicitation (Sec 8, ITPPA) but is silent on in- minors, as effective prosecution against the traf- door prostitution, which is the major loophole of fickers’ may act as a positive deterrent for the anti-trafficking mandates. Thus, brothels contin- people profiting from the acts of ST. ue to run unabated since decades. Corruption among police and other law enforcement bodies REFERENCES continues to patronize the brothel owners who are seldom prosecuted for running brothels. Fur- Bosworth M, Hoyle C, Dempsey MM 2011. Research- ing trafficked women: On institutional resistance ther, it has found that poor governance system and the limits to feminist reflexivity. 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