[Terpsichorean]

---Double Post ~~~

[roopag]

hi! Great to see you guys are doing such a good job with this forum..
if we dont have a topic for today yet, could we look at "Legalizing/ Decriminalizing Prostitution".
They featured this topic on We the People (NDTV) last week and it made for a pretty interesting discussion.
Some arguments for and against this:

Pros

Realistically speaking, its almost impossible to completely eradicate prostitution, so we might as well focus on protecting their rights
It is a genuine source of employment for many women who often dont have another choice
Allows the establishment of a proper framework where prostitutes can access the legal system and stand up for their rights; report violence etc.
Increases regulation- they would operate with licenses and regular health checkups, AIDS awareness would help to tackle our problem with AIDS and other STD's
Proper laws and monitoring would ensure that prostitutes get a significant share of what they earn rather than a large portion going to the police, middlemen etc.
Legalization could possibly help reduce the problem of trafficking of women and children

Cons

Commodification of womenhood
Increases demand for prostitution adn undermines the value of the family, institution of marriage- encourages people to be sexually and morally irresponsible
Could lead to an increase in trafficking if laws are not properly implemented
Approximately 80% of prostitutes are not prostitutes by choice; should we be protecting this majority instead by focusing on banning prostitution/ providing alternatives?
Corruption is rampant in India and we would be largely dependent on the police to implement this- is it feasible?

[roopag]

I've attached a comprehensive overview of the budget. I found it was quite useful..

[arulprakash]

Originally Posted by roopag

hi! Great to see you guys are doing such a good job with this forum..
if we dont have a topic for today yet, could we look at "Legalizing/ Decriminalizing Prostitution".
They featured this topic on We the People (NDTV) last week and it made for a pretty interesting discussion.
Some arguments for and against this:

Pros

Realistically speaking, its almost impossible to completely eradicate prostitution, so we might as well focus on protecting their rights
It is a genuine source of employment for many women who often dont have another choice
Allows the establishment of a proper framework where prostitutes can access the legal system and stand up for their rights; report violence etc.
Increases regulation- they would operate with licenses and regular health checkups, AIDS awareness would help to tackle our problem with AIDS and other STD's
Proper laws and monitoring would ensure that prostitutes get a significant share of what they earn rather than a large portion going to the police, middlemen etc.
Legalization could possibly help reduce the problem of trafficking of women and children

Cons

Commodification of womenhood
Increases demand for prostitution adn undermines the value of the family, institution of marriage- encourages people to be sexually and morally irresponsible
Could lead to an increase in trafficking if laws are not properly implemented
Approximately 80% of prostitutes are not prostitutes by choice; should we be protecting this majority instead by focusing on banning prostitution/ providing alternatives?
Corruption is rampant in India and we would be largely dependent on the police to implement this- is it feasible?

• Prostitution is not new, infact it was there from the very beginning of human civilizations from the roman to our very own harappa ,Even in our culture there were Devdasi although it cannot be classified into prostitution. Patronship a majority of cases is achieved at the time of the dedication ceremony itself. The patron who secures this right of spending the first night with the girl can pay a fixed sum of money to maintain a permanent liaison with the devadasi, pay to maintain a relationship for a fixed amount of time, or terminate the liaison . A permanent liaison with a patron does not bar the girl from entertaining other clients, unless he specifies otherwise. In case the girl entertains, other men have to leave the girl’s house when her patron comes. This was accepted in the past.. The "Geisha girls" , also known as "panpan girls," were Japanese women who worked as prostitutes during the period of the Allied Occupation of Japan. . So prostitution was there in every culture from the beginning, but things have changed, women have finally broken the age old shackles that were imposed upon them. So legalize prostitution will only take them backward not forward.
  
  
• while these type of legislation may be successful in some countries like Holland and Russia. We cannot take it for granted that it will work in our country as well. we should take into account the cultural and social structure too. India being a secular country, this law will be offending to a certain sector of the population,
• Women's social hierarchy may take a beating.
• Illegal trafficking of women may increase as you had pointed out,add to that children can be forced with forged DOB certificate to render the activist powerless to fight against that.
  
• Approx 80% I don't know how you came upon that percentage figure, but I rather say that women are forced into prostitution in our country.
  
• If we legalize prostitution, then it means we are looking for a easier and quick way out of this problem, instead of legalizing it, we should look to generate employment elsewhere, we should be able to protect at least those who are forced into prostitution.

[calvin_wonders]

@ Roopag :
Unfortunately i was not able to log in all day today ! So i was mighty thankful when i saw you kept the ball rolling.

So Let's start with today's topic :

Naxalites : A threat to India's sovereignty

We can discuss the Maoists idealogy
The reason for it's spread in various parts of INDIA
Factors contributing to growth of NAxalism
Current situation in various states
Failure of government to curb Naxalism
Steps required by National ,State Govt.and Grass root level to address the situation.

[natasha s]

hey a gr8 initiative onur part..

count me in..any topics for today?...how abt discussing the budget...jus keying in points..

[natasha s]

hey a gr8 initiative on ur part..

count me in..any topics for today?...how abt discussing the budget...jus keying in points..

[maahi_prasad]

Genesis & Ideology Genesis & Ideology
1. “Naxalism” takes its name from Naxalbari (WB), which witnessed a socio-economic uprising in 1967

2. Naxalites – term used to describe adherents to ideology of radical Communist groups

3. Believe in capturing power through a violent revolution

4. Naxals aim at ushering in a socialist economy, classless society, and communist polity

5. To realize this, Naxals believe in complete annihilation of class enemies

6. Chief targets include upper caste landlords, police, politicians, government officials

will add some more soon ..

[GeminiGal]

Originally Posted by roopag

hi! Great to see you guys are doing such a good job with this forum..
if we dont have a topic for today yet, could we look at "Legalizing/ Decriminalizing Prostitution".
They featured this topic on We the People (NDTV) last week and it made for a pretty interesting discussion.
Some arguments for and against this:

Pros

Realistically speaking, its almost impossible to completely eradicate prostitution, so we might as well focus on protecting their rights
It is a genuine source of employment for many women who often dont have another choice
Allows the establishment of a proper framework where prostitutes can access the legal system and stand up for their rights; report violence etc.

Cons

Approximately 80% of prostitutes are not prostitutes by choice; should we be protecting this majority instead by focusing on banning prostitution/ providing alternatives?

Hi,

I am really sorry to break the continuity...but if you could explain the bold points, it would really help us out....like why do u say it is impossible to eradicate prostitution....and about that 80% statistics.

[roopag]

Originally Posted by GeminiGal

Hi,

Originally Posted by GeminiGal

I am really sorry to break the continuity...but if you could explain the bold points, it would really help us out....like why do u say it is impossible to eradicate prostitution....and about that 80% statistics.

Hey.. Hope this helps..

It seems to be unrealistic and a little too optimistic to hope that we will see a day when prostitution does not exist. Like Arul said, it is one of the oldest "profession's" in the world and there are reasons why it still exists. Prostitution is connected to a number of other issues; the main one being poverty. Prostitution in India has a strong mafia backing making it an even more difficult issue to handle. Eradication of Prostitution requires a complete change in the social setup of this country especially a change in the attitude towards women.

the 80%- Im trying to find the article I read this in, will get back once I do. On "We the People, it was mentioned that 86% of prostitutes are not there by choice. There are similar facts available online but they are a little older- Every day, about 200 girls and women in India enter prostitution, 80% of them against their will. (CATW Fact Book, citing CEDPA and PRIDE)

about their rights- Prostitutes are subjected to violence and harassment by police, pimps etc. Being citizens of this country or simply just being human beings, many feel it is only fair that prostitutes too should have a right to report violence, access proper healthcare facilities etc. The stigma associated with prostitution makes this virtually impossible.