Vol 12, Issue 19

Vol. 12 Issue 19

Indian Institute Of Journalism and New Media, Bangalore

February 08, 2013

Special Report

PROTECT US! Tragic story of a sex worker At the age of 23, Anitha (name changed), against her will, entered the darkness of prostitution. Poverty and the need to give her children a better future drove her into the flesh business.

Anitha was asked to accompany her friend to a lodge where a client was to be met.To Anitha’s surprise, the client turned out to be her relative. She was forced to drink beer, in which cigarette ash was mixed. As soon as she started feeling dizzy, she was asked by her client to sleep with him...

Credits: Press Release

More on Page 2 >>

Bangalore sex workers union protested against the newly proposed laws which they say will put rights of sex workers further into shadows.

Several sex worker’s unions and NGOs staged protests in different cities in India.

Bangalore city witnessed protests staged by hundreds of sex workers in co-operation with the National Sex Workers Union and other NGOs like Sangama, Karnataka Sex Workers Union, Uttar Karnataka Mahila Okkoota, in front of the town hall.

But before issue could be raised, the ordinance was signed by President Pranab Mukherjee without having discussed it in parliament.

Sex worker’s union and NGOs suspect that if the ordinance is passed it may increase the atrocities against sex workers who have voluntarily entered the profession.

The forwarded proposal is also being criticized for its non-compliance to the report submitted by Justice Verma Commission to the apex court.

Justice Verma Commission was constituted in order to suggest amendments to the Criminal Law Bill 2012, so that trial process of Delhi rape case can be enhanced.

The Commission was established on the pretext of Delhi gang rape case.

Story continued on Page 3 >>

Credits: Nikita Malusare

Protest held against the ordinance that the parliament has passed against the sex workers

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The Weekly Observer

February 08, 2013

When life becomes hell...

By Nikita Malusare Continued from Page 1 >>

Akka. Nagamma was a sex worker by profession.

“Akka was like an angel to me, she took care of me and my children, gave me food on time and I helped her in her daily chores. But I did not like her being a sex worker.

Nor was I interested to be like her.”

Her primary concern was her children. Anitha did not wish her children to live a life like she did. She wanted to educate them so that they could live their lives independently.

“After slogging an entire day at the construction site I received only Rs. 30 which was insufficient for me to raise them as per my dreams.”

Her friend Akka insisted she should take up sex work as that was the only way she could earn more and help fulfil her dreams.

At the age of 23, Anitha, against her will, entered the darkness of prostitution.

Poverty and the need to give her children a better future drove her into the flesh business.

She initially received Rs. 500 which later increased to Rs. 1000. Eventually she earned thousands daily.

Touching the marks on her chest, she recalled the worst day of her life. Since then, she has not allowed anyone to get close to her.

Anitha’s friend Rani called Anitha to accompany her to a lodge where Rani was to meet a client.

But to Anitha’s surprise the client turned out to be her relative, Arun. She was asked to have dinner with them.

“Arun was my relative, how could I turn down the invitation so I stayed over to have dinner, but later he insisted I have some drinks.

Though I didn’t wish to I was handed a bottle of beer.”

After some time three more boys entered the room.

I assumed they were Arun’s friends so I did not question their presence.

In not more than two

or three sips she felt dizzy.

“I realised my drink was mixed with cigarette ash.”

“Arun insisted I sleep with him.

But I refused.

How can I sleep with my own relative?”

In her semiconscious state Anitha took her bag and headed towards the door.

“Arun broke the beer glass and attacked me,” she said in a quiet voice.

“He aimed to hit my face but since I turned my face on the left, I got stabbed on the right side.

Another fellow broke the whiskey bottle and hit my face. I fell unconscious with blood flooding out all over my face and chest.”

“Rani, was there all the while. But she Anitha, a sex worker, was attacked by a client and ignored by police kept watching the whole incident him. But all the procedures satisfied with her life as she like a movie. When I gained consciousness, I were carried out by the NGO has successfully managed to educate her children and found myself in a hospital itself.

“Arun came back pleading give them a better life. attached with saline and to take back the case but I Talking about the present blood bottles.” told him, “The case is with scenario how sex workers Victoria Hospital the Suraksha , I cannot do operate in the city, she said, authorities told her that anything.“Within two months “Thanks to the union and Suraksha NGO had brought of the incident Arun was various NGOs that support her to the hospital and burned to death by his own us and fight for our rights we taken care of the medical can talk about our profession facilities. And she needn’t wife.

And Rani is still breathing freely and discuss our pay anything. free air.

“Apparently she has problems.”

“I didn’t wish to file any turned mad,” said Anitha “So But she fears that the case against Arun. I knew police didn’t take any action new ordinance if passed police would not take my against her.”Today Anitha is may mute those voices and case seriously as I am a sex 40-years-old and happy in concerns: “Already many are worker. That’s how police against the sex workers. Our usually treat us. They don’t her life.

She brought an auto for children, family and society pay heed to our assaults.” her son and her daughter do not support us. We will “But on the insistence has got married to a boy in have nowhere to go. ” of the charity Suraksha, I Rannebur village.

She is agreed to file a case against Credits: Nikita Malusare

In her simple orange and white sari, she looks like any other Bangalorean woman going about her daily business.

But the brightly colored clothing hides another life.

Anitha, a sex worker, carries the battle scars of a past most of us never have to contemplate.

The stitches on her face and chest and her teary eyes explain more about her dark life of brothels, clients and pimps than her words ever could.

It is a closed world where violence is dealt out without a second thought. Sex workers fear planned laws in the wake of the Delhi outrage will criminalise them and push them deeper into the shadows.

Anitha is lucky to be alive. In a frank and moving interview, she talks about the risks sex workers take daily and warns against the new ordinance.

Like many other unfortunate women in this country, Anitha was married at an early age to an abusive husband who left her pregnant with a one-year-old daughter.

Her in laws added fuel to the fire. They tortured her mentally and physically.

She was asked to leave the house after her husband went missing.

She broke all family ties and left her house and stayed at a construction site.

“I was pregnant when I was asked to leave the house. Nowhere to go, I took refuge at a construction site where I worked and earned daily Rs. 30,” she said.

She delivered a baby boy at that construction site. Since she had no relatives in the city, her friend Nagamma took care of her and shifted her to her house at Ramanagar, a small village near Mysore.

Naggamma treated Anitha like a sister. She called her

February 08,2013

The Weekly Observer

| 03

Pushed further into darkness The Verma report proposed to incorporate the section 370 as an amendment to Criminal Bill Law. It stated non consensus penetrative sex or any type of physical intimacy without the consent of the women punishable under section 354 of the Indian Penal Code.

The committee was established in the wake of the

define all prostitution as an exploitation.”

Even a girl who has accepted sex work voluntarily, because of lack of job opportunities and lack of family support, can be punished under section 370.

The existing law on sexual assault states, “Assault or use of criminal force to a woman with the intent to outrage

BANGALORE’S sex workers have united to oppose planned new laws which they say will push prostitutes further into the shadows.

Unions representing sex workers from all over India are furious over the new criminal ordinance.

As a protest against the ordinance, hundreds of sex workers along with the National Sex Workers Union and other NGOs like Sangama, Karnataka Sex Workers Union, Uttar Karnataka Mahila Okkoota and many others came together outside Bangalore’s Town Hall last Saturday, February 2nd.

But immediately before the issue could be raised, President Pranab Mukerjee signed the ordinance without having it discussed in parliament.

Akkai, director of Sangama, feared that the ordinance if passed may increase sexual harassment or persecution cases among sex workers who have voluntarily Hundreds of sex workers staged a protest at Town Hall last Saturday entered into the job.

Faizal, a human rights lawyer, raised concerns that “if the recommendation Delhi gang rape and murder her modesty” is punishable under section 354 of the IPC to incorporate section 370 case.

The Verma report with two years’ imprisonment. to Criminal Law Bill 2012 is proposed to incorporate However the term “outrage” accepted then police across section 370 as an amendment is not clearly defined in the the country would have the IPC. liberty to use the ordinance to the Criminal Law Bill.

It stated non consensual The committee to criminalise sex workers.

Faizal confirmed to penetrative sex or any type of recommended that nonthe Observer saying that physical intimacy without the consensual penetration and a meeting will be held at consent of the women would non -penetrative forms of Baswangudi tomorrow to be punishable under section sexual contact should be discuss sexual abuse cases 354 of the Indian Penal regarded as sexual assault Code. and should be punished on both men and women.

The committee included under the section 354 of Justice Verma’s Committee was established section 370 that deals with the IPC with five years on 23rd December to suggest the trafficking of women. It imprisonment.

Nisha Gullur, President amendments to the Criminal used the term “exploitation” to define trafficking as a crime of the National Sex Workers Law Bill 2012 in order to Union said, “80% of the speed up the trial process in the country.

Akkai pointed out sex workers are voluntary and enhanced punishment for criminals accused of that, “Exploitation is a big in nature and the rest are that incorporates trafficked. If the law is committing sexual assault word prostitution.

It can be used to passed it can also be used against women.

against the sex workers who have voluntarily adopted the profession.

“Since 2006 human rights activists are fighting to ensure civil rights for transgenders, homosexuals and sex workers”, said Faizal, Human Rights lawyer, “but the efforts of the union have become regressive in nature than progressive because of

Nisha asked, why are the sex workers criminalized?

“Neither do they have jobs nor do they have families that can support them financially.

They have only two options; either beg or get involved in prostitution. If someone has to be criminalized then it should be the customers or people that abuse them.”

Explaining one of her associate’s story she said, “A few years ago, Anitha was stabbed in her chest by a broken beer bottle by her customer.

When she complained at the police station, instead of taking any action against the person the police authority abused her for being a sex worker.”It’s estimated that some 4,500 sex workers operate in Bangalore.The National Sex Workers Union distributes 500 condoms every day to sex workers in order to prevent HIV from spreading.

Many of the workers are afflicted by HIV. Faizal believes HIV cases may rise if prostitution is criminalised, “Today, since prostitution is not legally an offence, sex workers have willingly opened up their identity to unions or NGOs and they operate at one specific location, which makes it easy to target the HIV patients and treat them.

But once it gets criminalised sex workers will scatter and make it difficult to locate the HIV infected ones.”

Akkai added:“India being a democratic country its parliament should have representatives of our minorities who will be able raise our voices and help the government to take right decisions.”

Credits: Press Release

By Nikita Malusare

such ordinance.”

Akkai, human rights activists at Sangama, believes Sheshu’s , National Sex Workers Union President, presentation on the plight of the transgender, LGBT and female sex workers in the country was completely ignored by the Justice Verma Committee.

She demanded repeal of the section 370 completely, adding: “Such a section should be repealed immediately before it becomes a law.

Sex workers unions all over the country along with women right’s organization like All India Democratic Women’s Association will stage a protest at national level. ”

The Weekly Observer

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February 08, 2013

Brighter future for the blind A teaching institute for the blind claims they secured jobs for almost all their graduates last year.

The National Association for the Blind (NAB) said that of 100 blind students enrolled in 2012, they found jobs for 95 of them.

The association, in Bangalore, aids blind children to help them build a future of their own and is the only association in the state which practices inclusive education for blind children.

Along with providing education NAB Karnataka also provides employment opportunities for rural and tribal people. Rehabilitation, education and vocational training are given free of cost.

The motto of NAB is to provide easy access to education and to create employment opportunities for the blind population.

NAB Karnataka branch was established in 1977 in order to provide a platform for the blind people to get recognition in society. NAB is recognised by both state and Central government.

M. Srinivas, Chief Executive Officer of NAB, said: “We have different

Blind children are trained to get employed in the long run. (Right) Mr. Srinivas the CEO of NAB.

programmes for visually challenged people.

We provide inclusive education for blind children. That means blind children go to school like any other child.

“They should not be segregated as blind or visually challenged kids. They should be treated equally. We believe that visually challenged kids should also get recognition in the society like any other child.

“There are some schools for the blind but there are no colleges for them. NAB has a wing which provides a

graduation program for the blind. The course is free. Any blind person and especially from rural areas can apply for this course after passing PUC exams.

“For girls we have a free hostel facility also. We teach them communication skills, computer courses.

After completing graduation they get jobs in different industries. Some of them even work as school teachers.”

Most of the programs and courses offered in NAB are for rural and tribal people

only and not for the urban population.

Along with inclusive education, there are one-year rehabilitation courses and practical training is given to visually challenged children.

They get training on how to walk on the road and interact with people.

NAB has a computer course which is affiliated with NIIT for the blind. There are two types of course, basic and advanced.

The basic course lasts four months and is for those who have passed high school

examinations.

This course includes learning of MS office, HTML and internet browsing. The advanced course lasts a year and is for those who have completed their graduation in any field. This course includes learning of different computer programmes.

Mr. Srinivas said: “We want to give special attention to our children and that is why there is one teacher for every eight students.

“Every year 100 students get enrolled in vocational training courses like weaving, candle making and stitching.

95 of them got jobs in different companies in 2012.

The absorption of visually challenged people has increased.

“In the year 2010, out of 100 students, 50 got jobs. In 2012, 65 students got jobs.

The job opportunity is increasing for visually challenged as in some blind schools they get jobs as trainers who train others how to walk on road and other mobility training.”

There are around 500 blind workers who got their certificate from NAB who are working in garment factories all over Karnataka.

Information overload!

A single Right to Information request to the Karnataka state government generated a staggering 361 replies in under eight weeks.

Karnataka’s ruling BJP Party boasted last week that they had created a scheme which “eradicates red tape in one move” but student journalist is wondering where to store the mountain of replies to his RTI request.

The stamps alone costed Rs 7,220.

In a recent edition of Tehelka magazine Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar talked about his government’s “Sakala” scheme to combat red tape.

“The sakala scheme eradicates red tape in one move, it is a proof, if at all proof was needed of this government’s sincerity and conviction to provide corruption free and hassle free governance to its subjects.”

The Request for Information under Right to Information (RTI) filed to the Public Information officer of the Department for the Empowerment of Differently Abled and Senior Citizens, dated December 12, 2012 was forwarded to many departments across the state.

The various departments

and officers within the same

departments

have

replied

Credits: Deepu Aby Varghese

By Satyajit G D

Credits: Shreya Mukherjee

By Shreya Mukherjee

over and over again respoded regarding the same question – all of them saying the same thing.

Veeresh, an RTI activist in Bangalore, said: “Most of the government offices are illequipped and employees are not been trained properly to deal with the application.”

Mostly RTI replies comes via speed post and courier services which leave the government with huge postage bills, he added.

Although officials are burdened with RTI requests they claim it has been effective in checking corruption.

An application under the Right To Information Act addressed to the state government yielded 361 individual replies at a cost of Rs 7220

The Weekly Observer

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Give us money and we’ll clean up

February 08, 2013

Juveniles forced into child labour in remand homes

BBMP’s finance chiefs felt that more money was needed to prevent a repeat of the garbage crisis in future.

The annual Karnataka State budget 2013-2014 is scheduled to be announced tomorrow, members of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) have several anticipations and expectations to fulfill in the coming year.

Talking to Mr. S. Shantakumar , Assistant Controller of Finance with the BBMP expressed his positive expectations from the state budget.

He believed that this time the budget should allocate more funds for land acquisitions to generate landfills for garbage disposal.

Greater financial assistance was also required for Solid Waste Management (SWM) programs. Last year, the annual state budget allotted Rs. 200 crores for SWM programs.

Mr. Shantakumar felt that the amount allotted, was unexpectedly insufficient to cover 198 wards in the city. He claimed that the Karnataka government would take strict measures towards waste clearance.

Considering the growing population and infra Inevitableoverexpenditure every year was another major concern for the BBMP, as Mr. Shantakumar pointed out at the shortage funds incurred last year.

“We need to manage our expenses efficiently, though in most of the cases certain expenses cannot be controlled.”: he added.

He also hoped to receive more grants from the state government compared to last year to effectively carry out its health and other projects.

Delinquints in juvenile homes continue to be abused and exploited

Services Authorities (KSLSA) had filed a case in the High Court after inspecting a number of juvenile homes across the state.

Following the directions from the high court, it was found that there is a 42 percent vacancy in administrative and teaching posts, along with cooks and councilors at the homes.

KSLSA Deputy Secretary, Sunil Kumar Singh, said: “The

report is submitted and court has to take further action.

We hope action will be taken soon.”

According to the rulebook, the health profile of all juveniles at the shelter is mandatory under the Karnataka Juvenile Justice Rules, 2010 but health profiles and mental health of juveniles were not monitored due to lack of councilors and medical doctors.

Mr. Rajendraprasad, Superintendent of Bangalore Child Home said: “Our objective is to identify their parents and if we are able to do that, the committee will send them to juvenile home.”

The recent Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) reports says that state government had failed to maintain national and international standards in ensuring juvenile justice.

Aspiring artist accused of publicity gimmick by KCP

By Urmi Sengupta

THE principal of an art gallery embroiled in a nude portraits row believes the artist behind the work cooked up a publicity stunt.

The paintings of Arvind Sainath Krishnamani were removed from the Chitra Kala Parishath wall and kept aside in order to avoid protest by anti-social groups on Tuesday.

The principal of Chitra Kala Parishath Mr. Tejendra Singh Bowni said: “The artist had made it a big issue which was needless. This can completely be considered as a publicity stunt.”

Professor Bowni claimed: “It was not even a painting. It was a digital print made in a comic way.”

Referring to the incident,

Credit: Pyusha Chaterjee

By Sneha Banerjee

DESPITE the outcries of various organizations, conditions have still not improved in the juvenile homes in the city.

Children in juvenile homes are being forced to cook, clean and renovate the juvenile homes in Bangalore.

The children in these homes are being abused by the people who are responsible for their protection.

Such was the condition of a juvenile home in Hosur which has 107 inmates without proper beds, blankets or proper shelter. The juvenile home accommodates more number of juveniles in a few cots arranged at their hall.

Children below 16 years of age were found to be accommodated in two small halls.

The home rarely had any staff at work and many administrative posts were vacant. The existing manpower was not found to be in a position to handle any kind of emergencies in case of one.

The Karnataka State legal

Credit: Satyajith

By Satyajit G D

KCP gallery removed three controversial prints

the principal claimed that such a cheap stunt was least expected from an artist just to gain fame.

“The artist had turned it in a completely different way and also had included politics with the help of his father and two other advocate friends.”

He added.

Not only this, the principal of the Parishath had raised a question on the authenticity of the artist He said: “This fellow has taken it in a very wrong manner. No art critic should appreciate it.”

Answering the question

of public outrage he added: “Every artist has independence to portray their form of art but before presenting the painting in front of public one should also consider the sentiment of the common people.”

He said: “The three pieces that were removed from the wall depicted the nude portrait of Shiv and Parvati, Kaali Maa and the transformation of Vishnu into Mohini.Once the police warned us about the probability of protests by some anti-social groups we removed the painting from the wall.”

He added: “We have more than 400 students out of which 70per cent of them are girls and to maintain peace and harmony in the institute we had to dismount it from the wall.”

Water crisis looms

Credits: Krishnaprasad S

By Krishnaprasad S

The Weekly Observer |06 large in the city Assault and vehicle thefts top stage is under process that FIR lists in the city supplies water only to some

Bangaloreans are spending thousands of rupees on water tankers.

BANGALORE will face a severe water crisis following shortages at Krishnarajasagar dam.

Bangalore Water Supply and Sewage Board’s (BWSSB) regular plan of supplying water to the city every two alternative days is now a big challenge to the water board because of shortage of water.

The water crisis is expected to get thicker by the end of the month. Bangalore requires 350 MLD of water

every day for its population.

The government and private offices require a total of 70 MLD of water every day.

Situations have taken a worse turn at several slums in Bangalore. Women who stand in queue for water were found fighting for water that they get once in a week. The expected water requirement to feed Bangalore city is estimated at 5 TMC. The water crisis is expected to increase in the future as the Cauvery fourth

layouts in the city.

An official from the water board said, “What can we do if we do not get water from the main source? People must be aware of this and start conserving water. It is going to be very difficult this time as the crisis has begun before the summer itself”.

Meanwhile, water tankers have stepped on city roads with prices three times or even more than the prescribed rate. Some tankers were found charging Rs 800 to Rs 1000 against a prescribed rate of Rs 200 to Rs 250 per load. Aware of the situation, the people at slum have been paying half of their day’s income to these tankers causing a lot of trouble to their livelihood.

“We earn Rs 400 a day as daily wage workers. Even we have a family. Drinking water is most important than anything to us. How can we pay Rs 1000 per load of water”, said Sunil.

City cops make fortune from public smoking fines

By Priyanka Roy

POLICE officers are cashing in on Bangalore’s smoking ban, according to angry citizens.

The fine for smoking in restricted areas is set at Rs 200 but some people have been charged as much a double that.

While it’s mandatory to pay a sum of two hundred rupees if found smoking in public areas, locals claim the city cops charge four hundred from law breakers.

Every month at least one hundred public smokers are fined, according to city police. Unaware of how much it should be, people end up bargaining with police officers.

One of the victims, Mr. Niranjan Upadhyaya, a businessman, said: “I was caught while smoking in a public place and I was

charged three hundred rupees. Initially they asked for five hundred rupees but after pleading they accepted to take three hundred rupees.”

Since November last year, the ban on public smoking has been enforced by the joint initiative of BBMP health officers and city police.

Dr. Dhanya Kumar, the directorate of Health and Family welfare Services, said: “Smoking has been banned from last year itself but to ensure the implementation these activities need to be checked with the police officers.”

Dr. Devaki Umesh, Chief Health Officer BBMP, said: “We took this initiative along with the city police to enforce ban on public smoking. Many people have been caught by the police officers, smoking in public places.”

When asked how much the fine was, she said: “We are not sure about the amount but it must be two hundred rupees as per my knowledge.”

Arnab Chowdhury, another victim of the corrupt police officers, said: “I was recently caught while smoking in front of Checkpost bus stop and the police officer charged me rupees four hundred. I had to pay him the amount as I was not aware of the exact amount of fine.”

The law and order officer, Mr. L.M. Shakri said: “It has been mandated to charge two hundred rupees from the law breakers but the amount may vary in different cases.”

But the officer declined to comment when asked about allegations of extra money being charged by city police on the name of fine.

By Aheli Raychaudhuri

POLICE recorded almost 150,000 cases in Bangalore last year.

According to the National Crime Report Bureau, there were 147 370 complaints registered in Karnataka.

In 2011-12, there were 31, 970 oral and 115400 written complaints registered on the grounds of assaults.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) D. Devaraja said, “Those police officials who refuse to file an FIR are suspended by the Department.”

cases is usually assault.

At other times, FIRs are filed by people whose vehicles have been stolen.

Another police official who did not wish to be named said, “Around 40-50 FIRs are filed every month.

But, the number goes down when a gang is nabbed.”

This implies that the same group of people or gang of miscreants is the reason behind some of the crimes being comitted in Bangalore city.

Credits: Debasree Purkayastha

February 08, 2013

147,370 people made complaints at Bangalore police stations

However, have inspectors and sub-inspectors filed every FIR that they receive per day?

There are reports that claim that the police refuse to file an FIR as the area in which the crime is committed does not fall under the jurisdiction.

Mr. Sudheer Vaddi said, “I had purchased Samsung S5830 Galaxy Ace mobile worth 14,000 on 11-Aug2011 and somebody stole it in a BMTC bus.

I contacted the local police station to file an FIR, but they said they don’t give FIR report for mobile theft.”

In 2011-2012, the total number of cognizable offences was 30283 in Bangalore.

The FIRs are initially filed in the nearest police station and then the case is eventually transferred over to the respective police station.

Maximum number of FIR

Observer Team An IIJNM Publicaton (For private circulation)

Editor Hansa V. Sub-editor Sneha Banerjee Special Correspondents Nikita Malusare Rohan D Premkumar Page Editors Krishnaprasad S Urmi Sengupta Shreya Mukherjee Kakoli Mukherjee Satyajith GD Priyanka Roy Deepu Aby Varghese Proof Reader Aheli Raychaudhuri E-mail editor@iijnm.org