Social surroundings of malkins (prostitute owners) in the red light area, Sonagachi, Kolkata
Objectives
- To find out the cause for taking up the profession of CSW
- To find out the cause for becoming a malkin
- To find out the relationship between the malkins and the CSWs working under them
Methodology
- Personal interview of each malkin was taken with the help of a structured questionnaire
- Interview was conducted by the doctors of PHPA programme on whom malkins had full confidence
- All interviews was taken in closed door and the privacy was maintained
- Malkins were allowed to speak at length about their personal life
- Poverty in combination with other factors, such as, abused or left by the husband leads to take up the profession of CSW
- A CSW acquired the status of a malkin either improving their economic status after working as CSW for a longer period or economic support rendered by her babu (lover) to take a house or rooms on rental basis
- Participating malkins have good emotional relationship with the CSWs working under them
Malkins know about PHPA clinic of SBDCH and appreciated their activities - Malkins showed main concern about the protection from the HIV/AIDS and also a safe place for the children of their own and other CSWs
President of SBDCH meeting with the European team