Kamathipuram is infamously Asia’s largest red-light area.
* Red-light areas are home to the most marginalized women.
* Sex workers are trafficked here from all across India.
* In many cases, they are trafficked as minors and young adults.
RED-LIGHT AREA – THE TRUE STORY
A red-light district or a pleasure district is part of an urban area and is associated with the sex industry. These areas are concentrated with brothel-based prostitution, street prostitution and other sex-oriented businesses. (Caves, 2005)
Exploitation
* Despite violence by client, it is often motioned that sex workers can’t be raped.
* They are in constant debts because of non-payment of dues to brothel owners.
* Sex workers face offensive name callings on the street and in the society.
* They are often denied basic human needs of food, adequate sleep and medication.
Sanitation
* Brothels of red-light areas have poor infrastructure.
* They are situated in 3000 yrs. old dilapidated buildings.
* Each room or ‘Pinjra’ in a brothel is as small as 20 Sq. Ft.
* Every room is shared by 4-15 women to serve their clients.
Disease
* Red-light areas are a hotspot for transmission of diseases like Tuberculosis, AIDS, HIV, STDs.
* Myths and superstitions about use of condom increase spread of diseases.
* Infected women are abandoned and have nowhere to go.
Injustice
* Women lack knowledge about basic human rights.
* They are dependent on others for resources and assistance.
* The justice systems lack the capabilities to respond to these women’s needs.
Social Stigma
* Active, rescued and rehabilitated women are not accepted by family members.
* They are vulnerable to exploitation at their new workplace.
* Insensitivity of bureaucracy makes them unapproachable