MP rights report is a stigma on three castes

MP rights report is a stigma on three castes
Sreelatha Menon

New Delhi, March 2: A report by the Madhya Pradesh Human Rights Commission is set to raise a controversy for the insensitive manner in which it has discussed ``caste-based prostitution'' in the state.

The report -- Caste-based Prostitution in Madhya Pradesh -- without giving specific details about the survey conducted to arrive at the conclusions reached in the report, says there is rampant prostitution among three caste groups in the state. The report also declares that 50 per cent of one of the three castes discussed in the report have been tested HIV positive. The study was funded by UNICEF and inspired by international concern for the prevalence of prostitution in the state, according to a preface by the chairman of the commission, Justice Gulab Gupta.

The report does not give any figures about the number of people included in the survey or people indulging in prostitution and pimping. Despite the best intentions behind the survey, the publication of the report and its generalised conclusions may only lead to members of the castes being stigmatised by the society.

As for the HIV tests, it is against the norms set by the World Health Organisation and the Health Ministry to identify persons or groups tested HIV positive.

WHO regional advisor South Asia Jai Narayan said these surveys do more harm than good by turning people against all attempts to prevent HIV/AIDS. ``Remember what happened in Haryana? Once a village was branded HIV infected, no one was prepared to marry girls from there. And in this case, once the caste members find out about such damaging remarks about them, they would object to it,'' he said.

The report, which is claimed to be based on ``detailed and authentic information and is the result of a serious and comprehensive study of the subject'' uses insensitive language and resort to sweeping generalisations while detailing the history of the castes under study. One of the groups included in the study is reported as ``criminals from the beginning''. ``Male ... are even now criminals and engage in several offences, more particularly thefts... Nowadays, many of them also act as pimps and procure customers for female prostitutes,'' the report goes on to say. While discussing women of the particular caste, the report continues with its insensitive descriptions. After discussing the social reasons for prostitution becoming accepted in the community, the report goes on to say that ``... it is clear that a ... prostitute prefers concubinage to being a married wife because married life is hard and harsh while concubinage affords more freedom and prosperity''.

The report also says that ``in a recent health check of prostitutes about 50 per cent of them were found HIV positive, causing concern to the state administration''.

The state has already launched a massive AIDS awareness campaign and is distributing condoms free of cost, it says.

The National Human Rights Commission reserved its comments saying it has not seen the report yet. The National Commission for Women (NCW) was of the view that the report was only being realistic. NCW chairman Vibha Parthasarathy said it did not violate human rights and the Commission itself had made a similar report on these castes in the past. She said it is a fact that one of the children in the families of this caste are devoted to prostitution. If they are getting HIV positive then it is a serious matter and must be brought to light, she said.

AITUC leader Amarjit Kaur said the report was scandalous and they would go to court against the agency involved in making the report. Joint Action Council Kannur, an NGO, has already written to NHRC, NCW and Commission for Scheduled Castes and Tribes asking for action against the violation of human rights by the agency meant to protect these rights.