NGOs working with women in the flesh trade agree that poverty due to repeated droughts is the main source of this form of distress. S. Kullai Swamy of the Centre for Rural Action (CeRA), which works with women in six mandals around Anantapur town, says trafficking of women is not limited to Kadiri region alone; it has spread to almost all mandals of the district.
But Kadiri is more vulnerable to the phenomenon because it has a sizeable tribal population. “The Sugali tribe, particularly the women, are the worst-affected by the degradation of land and paucity of work due to drought,” adds S.V. Ramana of Jana Jagruti.
More than 10 NGOs work with sex workers in Anantapur district teaching them safe sex practices and motivating them to leave prostitution. “We deal with more than 2000 women, many of whom have got into prostitution to support their family. There’s just no work available to them. It is poverty and hunger that are driving these women into prostitution, nothing else,” said Mr Swamy. “It is when hunger starts to affect the children that they break out of the hold of traditional norms.”
We deal with more than 2000 women, many of whom have got into prostitution to support their family
