BANGALORE: Sex workers — two words that often make people cringe, especially as they are now seen in most parts of the city. Earlier, the sex workers had confined their operations to only a few areas in Bangalore. But gradually, they have spread out to even common places around the city. Some movie theatres around Majestic and Cantonment areas and some parks around Hebbal have become their favourite haunts.
The sex workers are often found with customers in movie theatres where the occupancy is less. The considerably empty theatre makes it easier for them to serve their clients, but makes it uncomfortable for unsuspecting audience who happen to be at the same theatre to watch the movie being screened. One would think that the condom vending machines at some of the cinema halls are there to make operations smoother for the sex workers.
Apart from theatres, sex workers are quite a common sight, even in the daytime, on streets and bus stands (like the Kempe Gowda bus stand), and they are seen soliciting customers.
It is estimated that there are around 5,000 sex workers in Bangalore apart from those who visit the city daily from outside.
While it is true that not all of them can be held responsible for the spread of HIV, there are some who are alcohlics and reckless, and do not care about precautionary measures when they have sex. The result is many young and adolescent boys in the city are contracting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and HIV.
Apart from sex workers, some eunuchs also choose to cause trouble, especially at traffic junctions. Ring Road, Marathalli, 100 Ft Road (Indiranagar) ans Hebbal are particularly affected by their operations.
Take a case study. A while ago, a journalist was returning from Varthur with a photo journalist on a motorcycle. When they stopped at Marathalli, a hijra approached them and used filthy language while asking for alms. The traffic police was there only to regulate vehicular movement but none to discipline the eunuchs who create nuisance at traffic junctions.
“We are unable to take action. If we try to chase them from this place, they create public nuisance,” said a police constable on condition of anonymity. There are many occasions when they not only make indecent gestures at those who do not give money but also solicit sex.
Indiranagar Police Inspector Ashok Bharani said that police have filed cases against hijras for creating nuisance. “We are taking action against them,” he said.
There have been occasions where hijras have robbed their customers. Because of such behaviour from a few of their community, others get a bad reputation.
When asked about the menace on Ring Road, especially near Ramamurthy Nagar, Narasimhaiah, Assistant Commissioner of Police, KR Puram sub-division, said that measures would be taken to curb deviant eunuchs. Many people recommend a separate place for them in Bangalore on the lines of the ‘red light’ areas in Kolkata and Mumbai. “The sex workers are demanding that the government recognise their work as a profession like any other profession in the society. When there are separate places like industrial estates for separate professions, why not a separate place for sex workers?” queried a social worker on condition of anonymity.