She is not abiding by the stereotypical norms of Indian society which ought to be followed by all girls especially that of the rural region. As a girl enters the stage of adulthood, she steps across the threshold of her new phase of married life however life is not same for the girls of Bedia tribe in the interiors of Rajasthan.
Girls as young as 13 years of age are forced to earn their livelihood by prostitution and just for a mere sum of Rs.100 (Indian currency). Bid can go for Rs.20,000 if the girl is virgin, and if, the girl happens to be ‘pretty’, well the price can soar up to Rs. 40,000.
Once a girl has lost her virginity she cannot marry. The choice has been made and the community celebrates it - this is her non-wedding night.
A girl’s ‘first earnings’ is observed with a huge round of celebrations ‘an extravagant party’, they say where ‘jewellery is bought for her and for her relatives, goats are slaughtered and alcohol runs freely. There is dancing, and offerings are made to the gods’.
Upon questioning, the girls replied that they do not mind entering into the flesh trade business as it would mean ‘money’ and ‘not doing housework’. But shirking the house work implies signing up to a life in where, they would have to deal with 20 to 30 clients per day until she reaches her forties. And after that the women would have to depend on children she may have for support.
For these girls/women, many of whom have chosen this profession, it is not the stigma of being a prostitute alone that is damning. In addition, they have to put up with physical and mental torture and absolutely no help from the police. The Bedia men on the other hand are the most parasitic members of their family since economy of the Bedias, insofar as it is dependent on prostitution.
Irony of the situation is that women who resort to this seldom receive a sympathetic word and hence their life is frittered away in the bottomless pit of sludge selling momentary pleasures. Their condition is wretched, leading a life of happiness with an air of respect is nothing more than a far fetched dream.
Comments
I have heard about this practice long back,think somewhere in the book- the transformation should first happen within these girls who agree or who are forced to agree, then the society has to play a large part in cleansing such evils.
It is rather unfortunate that girls choose such shameful profession for themselves. In the current age this is not compulsion but it is an easy method of earning for these girls.
These girls are choosing such kinda option as they have no other source of income. It is rather unfortunate that the claims of government of offering them better living conditions goes down the drain now who is to blame for all this? Still the girls or the society who has nothing to offer leave along social security!
What else can you hope for a country where millions starve for the sole reason that is poverty. Prostitution isn’t something which dents their souls and makes them repent, on the contrary they don’t mind losing it all as the with the passage of time it has given these females a route to escape.
Be it compulsion or choice, what is bad has to be termed accordingly. They cant justify something as heinous as prostitution only becuase they belong to a tribe who are infamous to carry forward the legacy of resorting to the norms of the society... Its a irony that a handful of women’s rights organization have ever done something to eradicate this menace ! Till that happens, we are bound to see more such gory stories !
Pooja,this tradition is age old in Betia,Sasi and Santia community of Bharatpur,Sawai-madhopur,Karauli.Hindon,Bayana regions.The another tradition in Gujjar community is ”Nata” system.In which they can take away wife of another person,just by paying proper price.
it feels sad reading your article. girls from that country should have their freedom.
Thanks for sharing this, too sad.
So miserableness..!! is it feasible to look forward to betterment in the future?? of course not easy!
The plight of these girls can be felt by all sensitive souls.They are victims of extreme poverty.It’s easy to understand the root cause of their bonhomie with sex racket but what about involvement of bold and beautiful girls from elite class in the sex racket.
The police raids have always led to disclosure of these bad rich girls belonging to affluent families.They are doing it merely to enjoy life in a lavish manner without having to do anything constructive!!