Slowly but surely Wadia in Gujarat is moving ahead to erase its image of being the “village of prostitutes.”
“We can say this from the attitude of the younger girls. They are no longer ready to be pushed into the flesh trade as was the case with their mothers and aunts,” said Mittal Patel, co-ordinator of the Vicharti Jaati Samuday Samarthan Manch, a voluntary organisation working for the welfare of the nomadic tribes and other backward classes.
“They are increasingly resisting any such attempts, want to lead a normal life, get married and settle down.”
Marriage is not something new in this village — a small hamlet close to the national highway in Tharad taluka in the border district of Banaskantha in north Gujarat. But it used to be a small private affair, usually a long time “customer” turning into a “husband,” whose role remained unchanged. They continued to serve as escorts and pimps for their “wives.”
For the first time, the Manch, after untiring efforts for the last five years or so, has organised a “mass marriage” of village girls to be held on March 11.
Pressure and threats
“There had been a lot of pressure and threats against us initially, as a section of the anti-social elements feared that it could mean an end to their thriving business. But slowly the pressure is easing as they are realising the determination of the young girls and also the fact that the law is against them,” Ms. Patel said.
A case has been registered with the Tharad police as a precautionary measure in case the anti-social elements make any attempt to disrupt the ceremony.
The mass marriage was initially organised for 15 girls. But five of them backed out, alleging “threats” from touts. Surprisingly, nine more girls came forward to join the ceremony the same day.
“We are sure we will be able to bring round these five girls too and possibly there will be a few more joining the mass marriage,” Ms. Patel said. Preparations are on for the ceremony and the Manch has lined up prospective grooms, she said.
Prostitution in villages close to the national or State highways, particularly en route to major cities, is not uncommon in India. But Wadia earned notoriety as it is located in a State where prostitution is banned, with no notified red-light area. The business thrives unseen.
For the hamlet of just about 150 families belonging to the Saraniya community, a nomadic tribe which migrated from Rajasthan, prostitution has for years been the main source of livelihood.
Ancestry
According to social activists, Saraniyas, trained in shining and sharpening swords, had left their ancestral villages in Rajasthan with the army of Rana Pratap to fight the Moghul emperor Akbar. Their job was the upkeep of weapons of the troops, while the womenfolk tagged along to “entertain” the soldiers in spare time.
With Rana Pratap defeated in the war and deciding not to return to Chittorgarh to prepare for another battle, his surviving troops were scattered.
The Saraniyas took shelter in a desert land in Tharad, which was later named Wadia. With the only trade they had expertise in dying a natural death — with the use of fire arms — the men lost their only means of livelihood. Instead of learning another trade, the men became dependent on their womenfolk.
Trained in singing and dancing, the Saraniya women started “entertaining” the rich landlords and small princes. But with the abolition of the zamindari system after Independence, prostitution became the only source of income for their families. The trend continued from generation to generation and it is believed that about 100 women in various age groups in the village are still involved in the flesh trade.
Though some men in the village have taken up the trade of selling bangles and sharpening knives, it is only a sham. Their children were trained in their trade from a very young age, boys as pimps and girls in the flesh trade. “But now they want to change the trend,” Ms. Patel said.
Time and again efforts were made by the State government and voluntary organisations to educate the Saraniyas to turn to farming or other trades. About a decade ago, the government allocated land, gave them agricultural inputs and also supplied cattle for additional income. But within months, the lands, the inputs and the cattle were sold and they returned to their old profession.
Amenities
“When we in the Manch first visited Wadia in 2005-06, the village had nothing. No roads, no arrangement for drinking water and not a blade of grass was seen in the desert land,” Ms. Patel pointed out. It was a herculean task to convince the men and women to turn to decent living. With the help of the State government, the Manch has provided roads, water and other basic amenities to the village.
“Slowly but surely they are turning round. Wadia will soon erase its bad name,” says a confident Ms. Patel.
