Topic: Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India. . Social empowerment.
1. With making laws on prostitution still a solicitous debate, Discuss the factors driving the sex workers to their industry and suggest measures to address it. (250 words)
Reference: Indian Express
Why this question:
As much as 68 per cent of women sex workers in India entered the profession ‘voluntarily’, due to factors such as lack of education and poverty, according to a recent survey. Thus the question.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must discuss the causes that lead to choosing over this profession for the sex workers and what needs to be done to overcome the challenges associated with this profession that is often involuntarily chosen.
Directive:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you have to debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You have to give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
First highlight why prostitution in India has still remained a solicitous debate.
Body:
Discuss the highlights of the survey briefly. Explain the factors pointed out by it that lead workers to enter this profession – poverty, uneducatedness, lack of access to health care, Flexibility of time and higher earnings than other professions etc. Discuss then the issues associated with the sector and how ultimately the government and the societies should aim to treat the sex industry as any other industry and empower it with legal safeguards, which would rid this workplace of exploitative and unhealthy practices. Suggest measures to overcome – bringing legitimacy to the sex-worker, strengthening effective dialogue and positive programmes in collaboration with private and government healthcare providers, government policies etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
