Amritsar: The city is experiencing a notable rise in the sex trade, driven not only by women's financial needs but also by the quest for sexual pleasure.
Various locations, such as streets and 'addas,' have become hotspots for these activities. Besides, a new group of women, known as the 'hidden population,' has emerged, adding another layer to the city's sex trade dynamics.
“In the past, girls entered sex work primarily out of poverty to meet their basic needs. However, in recent years, the number of sex workers has surged dramatically, potentially tripling or quadrupling. This rise is largely due to changing lifestyles, with many girls now aspiring to wear designer clothes, display high-end gadgets like iPhones, dine at luxurious restaurants, frequent beauty salons, and even own scooters or cars to impress their peers. For these girls, sex work has become an easy way to achieve these goals," said Daljit Kaur, also known as Kajal, the coordinator of Deep Dawaj Welfare Society.
Kajal, who worked as a sex worker for almost 15 years, started after finishing high school due to family issues. Over time, she discovered there were other ways to achieve her dreams besides being a sex worker. She left the work and began helping other sex workers and also completed her graduation.
She also serves as the director of the Global Fund project CV 19 RM (Covid-19 Response Mechanism) Key Populations. Through this project, she and her team visit 'hotspots' where the sex trade is common. They engage with sex workers, educate them about health risks, recommend training in alternative skills, and advocate for a more dignified lifestyle.
The sex trade in Amritsar is segmented into several categories including home base, adda base, hotel base, street base, and spa base besides there is a new and fast-growing hidden population.
She revealed that the Society has uncovered another troubling aspect of the sex trade involving women from affluent backgrounds, referred to as the 'hidden population.' “In this group, women engage in sexual relationships with men for both sexual gratification and, at times, financial gain. Conversely, some women even pay men for sexual encounters,” said Kajal.
"We have also identified many young village girls who travel to Amritsar daily under the guise of job hunting but end up in the sex trade, earning between Rs. 500 and Rs. 2,000 or more per day. Many girls from other states live in PG accommodations, hotels, and spas in Amritsar while engaging in sex work. Our team provides counseling to these girls, including college students," she added.
She further informed that their society has identified approximately 350 to 450 local girls and around 500 girls from outside Amritsar, including other parts of Punjab and even Thailand, who work in spas.
The Society also educates policemen about the legal rights of consenting couples in hotels to prevent harassment by the police.
"Our efforts are showing results. In less than a year, the society has successfully convinced 25 sex workers to pursue alternative professions through various skill development programs," said Kajal.