STATUS OF CHILDREN OF SEX WORKERS IN INDIAN SOCIETY:

RISKS, VULNERABILITIES AND REHABILITATION

SOCIOLOGY-I

Submitted by- Chelsea Sawlani

23LLB18

Submitted to- Dr. Ritu Sharma

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This project has only been possible due to the help and guidance of some people. I would
sincerely like to thank Dr. Ritu Sharma for her consultations and advice. Her explanation of all
the important concepts and class helped me gain clarity on the topic. I would also like to extend
my gratitude to ma’am for giving us the liberty of working on topics of our choice. I would also
like to thank my friends and family for their constant support and suggestions. I would further
like to thank the University for giving us the opportunity of working on such creative projects.

Thank You.

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 DECLARATION

I, Chelsea Sawlani, hereby declare that the following research project submitted by me on the
topic “Status of Children of Sex Workers in Indian Society: Risks, Vulnerabilities and
Rehabilitation” as an academic project for the subject Sociology-I, at the National Law
University, Delhi is my own work. This project has been carried out by me under the supervision
of the faculty in-charge, Dr. Ritu Sharma. I have, to the best of my knowledge, acknowledged all
sources that I have referred to.

Chelsea Sawlani

23LLB18

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Synopsis 5

II. Understanding status of children of sex workers in indian socitey 7

III. Risks and vulnerabilities faced by children of sex workers in india 10

a. Risks to physical and mental health 10

b. Social consequences 11

IV. Children of sex workers in india: reform and rehabilitation 12

V. Conclusion 15

VI. Bibliography 17

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 I. SYNOPSIS

Introduction

Sex workers all over the world are an extremely marginalized group of people. Especially in
countries like India, they face legal repercussions coupled with severe societal stigma. They are
often subject to discrimination, harassment and violence on a daily basis and are often denied
basic health services. There are an estimated 3 million female sex workers across India. Sex
work is lawful in India only if soliciting is conducted in private spaces. All other aspects of the
sex work industry are criminalized. Studies have also found that sex workers are the most
vulnerable group to HIV AIDS. Over the last few years, initiatives have been taken to recognize
the basic human rights of sex workers and implement rehabilitation programs for them.
However, there is dearth of study on the status of children of sex workers and the social issues
faced by them due to the highly agile and exploitative physical and social environments that they
grow up in. these children find themselves at a vulnerable position as they are highly prone to
HIV and other diseases, they are at risk of entering the same profession as their mothers out of
compulsion, they are subject to abuse and face severe discrimination and social stigma. This
project attempts to study this group of children from a sociological perspective. It attempts to
identify the vulnerabilities of these children and the social stigma faced by them. It further
attempts to study the effects of abusive and hostile environment on the child’s growth and tries to
make some suggestions for the empowerment and upliftment of children of sex workers in India.

Research Objectives

 To understand the status of children of sex workers in Indian society.

 To study the risks and vulnerabilities faced by children of sex workers in India.
 To analyze the different rehabilitation and reform programs for children of sex workers
and make recommendations.

Research Methodology

The researcher has adopted doctrinal method of research using primary and secondary sources.
The researcher has also used descriptive method to present the literature on this field. The

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researcher has relied on surveys conducted by think-tanks, journal articles, books and news
reports.

Research Scheme

This project has been written in essay format. The first section of the article gives a brief
overview of the topic. Then the next section is focused on understanding the current situation of
children of sex workers in Indian society. Over the next sections the researcher has described the
risks and vulnerabilities of these children and what are the various programs in place for their
rehabilitation and empowerment. The essay concludes with some recommendations for the
upliftment of these children.

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 II. UNDERSTANDING STATUS OF CHILDREN OF SEX WORKERS
IN INDIAN SOCITEY

“Every state in India should ensure special protection measures to secure the rights and
entitlements of children in need of special protection, characterized by their specific social,
economic and geo-political situation, including their for rehabilitation and integration.”1

This statement from the National Child Policy, 2013 lays down the guiding principle for policies
to be framed for protection and empowerment of children. In the NCP, children of sex workers,
children forced into sex work and exploited or abused children are included in particular since
these are some groups that face high level of social, physical and mental vulnerabilities and risks.
A part of the reason why children of sex workers face these risks is the social stigma attached
with prostitution.

Dr. Tulsing has argued that prostitution is one of the oldest professions in society. However, it
has also become one of the most hated professions. It is practiced in almost every country of the
world, including India, yet it is a taboo. The Vedas referred to prostitution as an established,
organized profession. There are many references in Indian mythology as well like Maneka,
Rambha and Urvashi who were known to be embodiments of feminine beauty and charm. Sex
work was common during the reign of the Mughals as well. Female sex workers were and
important part of the court and were a symbol of the prestige of the ruler. Prostitution in Indian
history, therefore, flourished under royal patronage.2

After the decline of the Mughal Empire, a lot of concubines were thrown out to the street. They
were not trained in any other profession and thus the society had no jobs to offer to them. When
faced with economic problem, they had no option but to take recourse to sex work. With
changing society, the perception of common people towards these women deteriorated. During
English rule as well, their status did not improve. Conditions continued to deteriorate and in the
absence of state control and regulation prostitution thrived on a large commercial scale. Social

1
National Policy for Children 2013, Ministry of Women and Child Development
2
Sonwani T, “PROSTITUTION IN INDIAN SOCIETY: ISSUES, TRENDS AND REHABLITATION”

7
disabilities and economic hardships of women made them an easy victim to the gangsters of this
profession.

In modern Indian society, poverty became one of the main factors that pushed women into
prostitution. Poverty, characterized by desperation, may be the root of commercial sex work
in modern Indian society. In this societal context of poverty and social stigma, women indulged
in commercial sex work became a very vulnerable group. Most women sex workers are treated
inhumanly at the brothel and in personal spheres. They are often subject to abuse and physical
violence. From the little money that they earn, a large portion is appropriated by the pimps. Of
the 3 million women sex workers in India, a lot of them suffer from HIV and other diseases and
do not even have access to basic healthcare facilities. 3 In a study conducted on female sex
workers in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, it was found that as many as 6% of them suffered
from HIV AIDS.4

Adding to their vulnerabilities, they face legal repercussions as well since sex work is lawful in
India only if soliciting is conducted in private spaces. All other aspects of the sex work industry
are criminalized. This makes them subject to brutalities of the policies and other law
enforcement agencies. Due to lack of legal recognition, they are denied the benefits provided by
the government by way of various schemes and programs. In the study mentioned above, it was
also found that only 4% of the female sex workers have health insurance and only 20% of
them received some kind of pension. 5 Due to prostitution being criminalized, sex workers
become easy targets of rape, robbery, abuse and other crimes as they are the least likely to report
these crimes to the police.

It has therefore been argued that prostitution be legalized and be treated as every other industry
because prostitution will thrive regardless of it being criminalized. Legalization of prostitution
will ensure that the government at least can keep a track of commercial sex workers. They will
be able to avail of healthcare services and will also receive legal protection from abusive
customers. The practical implications of legalizing prostitution will only bring benefits to this

3
Sonwani T, “PROSTITUTION IN INDIAN SOCIETY: ISSUES, TRENDS AND REHABLITATION”
4
Shetty B and Malve V, “Profiling the Situation and Vulnerabilities of Children of Female Sex Workers”
5
Shetty B and Malve V, “Profiling the Situation and Vulnerabilities of Children of Female Sex Workers”

8
community and to the society as a whole. Treating commercial sex workers with respect and
dignity is the need of the hour.6

The vulnerabilities faced by female sex workers in India not only affect them but also severely
affect their children. About 89% of the female sex workers in India have children who grow
up with them in an environment of violence and abuse. Studies have shown that this severely
affects their physical and mental well being. Due to the stigma associated with commercial sex
work, the children of these sex workers also bear the consequences. While there are multiple
studies on the status of sex workers in Indian society, there is dearth of research on the status of
children of these sex workers. The next chapter shall endeavor to study the various risks and
vulnerabilities faced by children of sex workers in India.

6
Shetty B and Malve V, “Profiling the Situation and Vulnerabilities of Children of Female Sex Workers”

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 III. RISKS AND VULNERABILITIES FACED BY CHILDREN OF
SEX WORKERS IN INDIA

Prostitutes haggling over a price with customers, drunken pimps creating a scene, and brothel-
keepers engaged in verbal battles with piqued neighbors. This is the kind of environment in
which children of commercial sex workers grow up. The unclear legal status of sex workers
sometimes makes them ‘invisible citizens’ and as a consequence, they are denied basic
rights and entitlements.7 This takes a serious toll on their children as well. Growing up in an
atmosphere of poverty and abuse severely impacts the health and wellness of children. They are
highly prone to diseases like HIV AIDS and are also vulnerable to abuse and violence
themselves. This chapter attempts to study the various risks and vulnerabilities faced by children
of sex workers in India. These can be studied in broadly two categories-

a. Risks to Physical and Mental Health

Studies have recognized female sex workers as a group “most at risk” of being infected by HIV
AIDS. The nature of their work makes them vulnerable to a lot of sexually transmitted diseases.
Globally, a lot of plans and interventions have focused on risk-reduction and prevention of these
diseases in female sex workers but little attention has been paid to the vulnerabilities faced by
their children. 8

In India, more that 80% of female sex workers are mothers. Globally, the majority of female sex
workers are mothers, raising millions of children. Many of these children are at high risk of
HIV, congenital syphilis, fetal alcohol syndrome, physical and sexual violence, and
tuberculosis. 9 Female sex workers also reported stillbirths and serious health problems among
their children, including: neonatal deaths, low birth weight, prematurity, neonatal abstinence
syndrome, behavioral and emotional problems. 10 On the global level as well, the issues of
maternal morbidity and mortality in female sex workers have been neglect and so has been the
well being of their children. Many female sex workers have risk factors for maternal morbidity

7
Pai A, Seshu M and Gupte M, “Status of Sex Workers in India” [2014] Centre for Advocacy on Stigma and
Marginalisation, (CASAM)
8
Beard J and others, “Children of Female Sex Workers and Drug Users: a Review of Vulnerability, Resilience and
Family-Centred Models of Care” [2010] J0urnal of International AIDS Association
9
“Health of Female Sex Workers and Their Children: a Call for Action” (2016) 4 The Lancet
10
Misra geetanjali, Mahal A and Shah R, “Protecting the Rights of Sex Workers: The Indian Experience” (2000) 5
Health and Human Rights

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and mortality, especially HIV-related mortality and complications and death from unsafe
abortions.11 A survey of female sex workers conducted in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh
and Maharashta revealed that children of female sex workers face high risk of being infected by
HIV AIDS. In the Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh, as many as 25% of children of sex
workers were tested HIV positive.12
Therefore, children of sex workers are at high risk of getting infected by HIV AIDS and other
harmful diseases. The social stigma, abusive environment and limited opportunities further
restricts their physical and mental well being.

b. Social Consequences
Even today, in the environment of women empowerment and increased awareness, due to
judgmental attitude of society, children of traditional sex workers are often abused and
discriminated. In s study conducted by National Commission for Protection of Child Rights
(NCPCR), it was revealed that these children face such a bias in society that they prefer isolation
than mingling with the rest of the society. The children of these communities shared that they
are often abused and discriminated against by children from other communities. In most
cases, the children preferred to not "interact or mingle" with outsiders or people from
other communities.13

These children are also at high risk of facing abuse by pimps and clients. Due to the kind of
environment that they grow up in, these children do not get adequate opportunities and quality
education. Although it was found that almost 75% of children of sex workers go to school, the
quality of education is very low.14 There is a prevailing fear that these children, especially girls,
might end up in their mothers’ profession due to denial of opportunities and stark poverty.
Additionally, many daughters of these sex workers are trafficked while other children are stolen
and sold. Many children of sex workers grow up watching their mothers being abused. The
atmosphere that they grow up in is not very conducive to emotional and mental growth. It was
revealed in the study that most of these children, when they grow up, face anger issues and

11
“Health of Female Sex Workers and Their Children: a Call for Action” (2016) 4 The Lancet
12
Shetty B and Malve V, “Profiling the Situation and Vulnerabilities of Children of Female Sex Workers”
13
<https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/living/story/19920615-children-of-prostitutes-being-guided-towards-a-
better-life-through-education-in-calcutta-766395-2013-01-04>
14
Shetty B and Malve V, “Profiling the Situation and Vulnerabilities of Children of Female Sex Workers”

11
learning disabilities. Therefore children of sex workers face not only physical but also social and
mental vulnerabilities.

I believe that the nature of the risks faced by these children goes beyond their physical and
mental health. It deeply impacts their personality and character development as well. The kind of
environment a child grows up in crucial to his/her understanding of the world. When an
individual or group is excluded from mainstream culture for too long, they may turn hostile
towards the mainstream culture. This makes their integration into the society further difficult.

Due to the stigma attached with prostitution and sex work, the society, at a large, fails to look at
these children with a neutral perspective. The collective consciousness of the conservative Indian
society pushes these groups to the periphery of the society. When children become witness to
this stigmatization from a very young age, they also internalize the prejudices against them. This
may lead to anger and hostility in some and fear in the others.

IV. CHILDREN OF SEX WORKERS IN INDIA: REFORM AND

REHABILITATION

In the red light area of north-Calcutta, in the narrow dingy Sethbagan Lane, off the busy,
congested Chitpur Road is a state of noise and confusion. Prostitutes soliciting for customers,
violent, verbal battles between sex workers and pimps and clients and the scene of brothels are
not the ideal environment for a school. But amidst the cacophony one can hear the sound of
young children reciting nursery rhymes. Amar Pathshala, the primary school in Sethbagan, has
been a path-breaking institution in many ways. It is a unique initiative by some NGOs to provide
education to children of sex workers. Despite the fact that it is located in an environment that is
not conducive to growth and learning, the school has received a very enthusiastic response.
Started in 1988 for children of local sex workers, functioning out of make-shift classrooms
school is their only hope for a better future.15

The students are taught basic skills-reading, writing and arithmetic. With the help of social
workers they are then enrolled into 'regular' schools in the neighborhood. The success of Amar

15
<https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/living/story/19920615-children-of-prostitutes-being-guided-towards-a-
better-life-through-education-in-calcutta-766395-2013-01-04>

12
Pathshala has had an encouraging ripple effect. More voluntary organizations are extending
education to the children of red-light areas. The Society for Community Development has started
a home-cum-school for prostitutes' children at Ranaghat in the city's suburbs. The story of Amar
Pathshala shows how education is the most important and effective method of inducting these
children into mainstream society.16

The study conducted by NCPCR also found that the children of sex workers require quality
education, rehabilitation and re-integration to insulate them from the "influence of their
traditional practice". They need residential facilities, "otherwise they eventually become part of
the family profession”. The NCPCR study outlined measures that are required to shield the
children from these problems, saying there is a need for a "two-pronged" strategy.

Firstly, facilities should be provided to two generations, that is children of traditional sex
workers who are currently staying with their parents and the new generation for whom a targeted
intervention is required from their early childhood, it said. Secondly, children after the age of 15
may be provided life skills and vocational training and hand-holding till they get a job or capable
to earn their livelihood and sustain themselves. “A convergent action is required amongst
schools, tinkering labs and vocational training," said the study.

In another study published in the International Journal of AIDS Research, it was found that there
are currently 18 organizations in Asia providing care and facilities to children of sex workers.
These organizations provide multi-faceted facilities to mothers and children, especially
educational opportunities and safe places to study and play for the children. They also provide
vocational training and alternate income generating opportunities to these workers and financial
assistance for the education of their children.17

However, it must be noted that all this assistance and services are provided by voluntary and not
governmental organization. Despite their efforts, most sex workers and children still face the
same risks and vulnerabilities. Government intervention in this case is necessary to ensure

16
Ibid
17
Beard J and others, “Children of Female Sex Workers and Drug Users: a Review of Vulnerability, Resilience and
Family-Centred Models of Care” [2010] J0urnal of International AIDS Association

13
targeted delivery of primary services to these communities. It is also important for the
government to take necessary steps for the upliftment and protection of these children as a lot of
these problems arise out of criminal nature of commercial sex work in India. Therefore the
government must step in and give educational and healthcare facilities to these groups.

The government must also initiate AIDS prevention and awareness programs in these areas. It
must take all necessary steps to induct these groups into mainstream society. Promila, a
commercial sex worker from Calcutta said in an interview “A little sacrifices on our part, so that
our children don't grow up to be prostitutes and pimps”. The government must also take steps to
ensure that the future of these children is safe and secure and that they are granted all basic
services like healthcare and education.

In light of these observations, I would like to make the following recommendations:

 Education is key: Social integration is the process by which minorities or other

marginalized groups are incorporated into the structure of the society. Education is one of
the best ways to ensure this. Equal access to education ensures equal access to other
opportunities. As we saw in the example of Amar Pathshala, in some groups, education is
their only hope.
 Legalization of prostitution: There is an ongoing debate across the globe on legalization
of prostitution. It is a very controversial topic, especially in countries like India, due to
the taboo attached with sex. However, legalization of prostitution will go a long way in
fighting the stigma affixed to it, which, in turn, will help in their integration into the
larger societal structure.
 Reform and rehabilitation: The government and voluntary associations must undertake
programs for reform and rehabilitation of these children. The “two-pronged” strategy
recommended by the NCCPPR must be adopted.

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 V. CONCLUSION

Promila, a commercial sex worker from Calcutta said in an interview “A little sacrifices on our
part, so that our children don't grow up to be prostitutes and pimps”.18

There are an estimated 3 million female sex workers across India raising approximately 5 million
children. And like in other countries across the globe, they are an extremely marginalized group
of people. Due to the illegal nature of their work and social stigma attached to it, commercial sex
workers, especially in India society, face abuse and violence, all while they are denied basic
rights and entitlements. Similarly and sometimes more affected are their children who grow up in
an environment that is not conducive to any kind of growth or learning. Further, there is a
constant fear that due to economic and social compulsion; these children might end up in the
same profession as their mothers.

The researcher, however, found that there is a serious dearth of research and writing in this area.
Most studies conducted by the government or research organizations pertain to the status of sex
workers. Rarely do they talk about the status o their children. These children, being an extremely
vulnerable and marginalized group, need the attention of the society.

In this paper, the researcher set out to attempt to fill this gap and study the status of children of
sex workers in Indian society. Sex work has roots in Indian history and mythology. However,
with the passage of time, it has come to be stigmatized. Women started taking up prostitution out
of poverty and societal compulsion. This stigma is precisely what has led to the marginalization
of these children. It was found that they do not get access to education and basic healthcare
facilities. Most of these children face discrimination and are ridiculed by their peers. Such a large
group of innocent children are denied equal protection and opportunities in the society.

The researcher also attempted to study the various risks and vulnerabilities faced by these
children and found that they are the most vulnerable to deadly diseases like HIV, tuberculosis
and Syphilis. A lot these children get infected by HIV, a lot of them face learning disabilities and
may develop anger issues and PTSD when they grow up. These vulnerabilities are classified by

18
<https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/living/story/19920615-children-of-prostitutes-being-guided-towards-a-
better-life-through-education-in-calcutta-766395-2013-01-04>

15
the researcher under two broad heads- risks to physical and mental health and social
consequences. Therefore, the risks faced by these children are far-reaching and deeply impact
their growth and development.

We also studied the various reform and rehabilitation programs in place for these children. While
the efforts of some individuals and organizations are commendable, there is serious lack of
government intervention. The government needs to first, provide legal recognition to these
children; second, provide then access to education and third, provide healthcare and
rehabilitation facilities to these children and their mothers. An ideal method of achieving this
would be adopting the two-pronged strategy recommended by the National Commission for
Protection of Child Rights, as discussed above.

The primary objective of this project was to study this group of children from a sociological
perspective. By identifying the vulnerabilities of these children and the social stigma faced by
them, by studying the effects of abusive and hostile environment on the child’s growth and by
making some suggestions for the empowerment and upliftment of children of sex workers in
India, this project has achieved what it set out to achieve; to fill the gap in dearth of research on
this topic.

As Landon Person rightly said, “no matter where they are and who they are, we cannot be
observers of children’s sufferings; we must be partners with them in their struggles”.

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 VI. BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. National Policy for Children 2013, Ministry of Women and Child Development
2. Sonwani T, “PROSTITUTION IN INDIAN SOCIETY: ISSUES, TRENDS AND
REHABLITATION”
3. Shetty B and Malve V, “Profiling the Situation and Vulnerabilities of Children of Female
Sex Workers”
4. Pai A, Seshu M and Gupte M, “Status of Sex Workers in India” [2014] Centre for
Advocacy on Stigma and Marginalisation, (CASAM)
5. Misra geetanjali, Mahal A and Shah R, “Protecting the Rights of Sex Workers: The
Indian Experience” (2000) 5 Health and Human Rights
6. “Health of Female Sex Workers and Their Children: a Call for Action” (2016) 4 The
Lancet
7. Beard J and others, “Children of Female Sex Workers and Drug Users: a Review of
Vulnerability, Resilience and Family-Centred Models of Care” [2010] J0urnal of
International AIDS Association
8. ‘Children of Prostitutes Being Guided Towards a Better Life’, India Today
<https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/living/story/19920615-children-of-prostitutes-
being-guided-towards-a-better-life-through-education-in-calcutta-766395-2013-01-04>

17