Besides the Indo-US nuke deal, the revised draft of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, is all set to create a rift between the UPA and the Left.
KOLKATA: Besides the Indo-US nuclear deal, the revised draft of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act (ITPA), which is awaiting parliament approval, is all set to create a rift between the UPA and the Left, especially the CPI(M).
The CPI(M) is opposed to the proposed amendments in the act on grounds that the amendment provisions are archaic and full of dichotomies. The most vocal is party MP Mohd Salim, who has been entrusted with the task of projecting the CPI(M)’s view on this issue in parliament.
According to Salim, some politicians are forcing the amendments to satisfy the ego of a typical patriarchal society. “The amendments totally overlook the future of the 1.5 crore sex workers in the country, whose very existence will be at stake if the amended provisions are put in place,” he said.
The party is of the opinion that although the amended provisions are ostensibly aimed at containing human trafficking, in practical terms the provisions do not have any definite clauses that ensure protection of women or sex workers. Rather, the amendments are merely driven by a conservative vision, Salim said.
Apart from calling for prosecution of clients, the amendments call for removal of children and dependants of sex workers from their areas of operation. In fact, as per the amendments all dependants of sex workers are criminals.
The CPI(M) is of the opinion that the introduction of such clauses, instead of bringing a curb on trafficking, would force the entire profession to go underground, thus leaving sex workers to the mercy of anti-socials.
The Nation Aids Control Organisation (Naco) has echoed the views of the CPI(M). According to Naco programme coordinator Dr S Jana, the nationwide campaign to educate sex workers about HIV and safe sex has already begun to yield results.
“Even if the amendments are introduced, it is never possible that the flesh trade will be stop. Rather it will go underground and the result will be a tremendous rise in the number of HIV-affected patients in absence of safe sex,” Jana said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}