Sex workers in many parts of the country have raised their voice against the exploitation. These ‘sex traders’ are showing a short cut of getting rich to college going and ambitious girls. The old Bollywood movies’ cliché “Koi bhi ladki apni marji se is dhande me nahi utarti” (no girl enters prostitution with her consent) is likely to appear false in this scenario. The rates vary from Rs 10k per couple of hours to Rs 1 lakh for a night or more for additional services. This trend does not show any compulsion for the girls but shows lust for money. Someone’s lust is being fulfilled for another’s lust.

Many girls are victims of the trend, because if once they enter there is no exit door. Few months ago, a foreigner revealed that she was lured into the profession. She was told that she would be given modeling contracts in India but after a few days her passport was taken away and she was forced into prostitution.

The advertisements of these escort services/massage parlours are ‘shamelessly’ displayed in prominent English dailies of Capital. Few newspapers, avoid this malpractice for generating revenue. Newspapers, which are considered the watchdog of society, don’t give a damn about checking such advertisements.

Sachin (cricket), Shahrukh (Bollywood movies) and Sex sell like a hot cake in India. The huge income of BCCI and cricket players, success of the film industry on the strength of Shahrukh Khan’s performance and sexy masala in the movies verifies it. Newspapers have news reports from London saying: ‘Losing virginity on cam can fetch $20,000’ or ‘Mom seeks a sex mate for her son’. But unfortunately, they close their eyes on sex trade for the elites within the city. The main reason is unidentifiable. The reason could be the revenue generated by these ‘service providers’ through their ads in the newspapers. One can see these classified ads in Delhi’s English dailies. They would not like to lose the revenue because the game is about getting maximum advertisers.

Indian Trafficking (Prevention) Act does not allow public advertisements given by the prostitutes. An advertisement proclaims: ‘Dream Girls For All India Services’ with contact so and so claim to provide educated, hi-profile models of Indian, Russian and Afghan origin, in the newspapers.

I hope the Press Council of India and Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) and Indian Newspaper Society would look into the matter. I expect that they would stop these advertisements with immediate effect. They cannot afford to sweep the issue under the carpet for long. A change is needed.