POVERTY: India: Father sells daughter to brothel

NAGPUR: She was purchased for Rs 5,000 by a brothel-keeper's agent before being brought to city's notorious red-light area Ganga Jamuna just a year ago. The teenager was apparently sold off by her father who urged her to accompany the women who had made the payment to city where she was promised a job. Ironically she feels happy being at the brothel than face hardships at home. Renu (name changed) had sneaked out of the brothel, along with two others, during a police raid in the locality last week. The three girls were spotted at Nagpur railway station under suspicious circumstances. Due to reasons unknown, only Renu was handed over to non-government organization by the police though all three were taken into custody. This was the second time that Renu was rescued. Last time, she was let go by Lakadganj police after her brothel-keeper made a 'payment' of Rs 4,000, it is learnt. Renu confided the fact about her first stint with the khaki-department during a counselling session with a social worker. The girl was told by her father to leave for Nagpur as it was not easy to arrange two square meals daily for the family. Renu's family worked at a brickkiln near Khandwa in Madhya Pradesh. They found it easier to do away with the daughter than marry her as abject poverty came in the way. That is how she came to be in a brothel. So scarred is Renu psyche that normal dreams of having education, career or family have deserted her. Instead, she wants to continue in the brothel. She is happy with the brothel-keeper who showers her with expensive clothes and cosmetics. Chairperson of child welfare committee Ranjana Pardhi had a queer version to share about the girl. "She is desperate to return to the brothel rather than live in a shelter home. She is unconcerned about contracting disease or being subjected to exploitation," she said. Pardhi pointed out that government must wake up to the need of appointing counsellors at rehabilitation centre. The girl, she said, needs sustained counselling to emerge from the shadowof the brothel-keeper. "There are many rescued teenagers like her," she added. Read more: Poverty makes dad sell girl for Rs 5K - Nagpur - City - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Poverty-makes-dad-sell-girl-for-Rs-5K/articleshow/6174657.cms#ixzz0wgBftPM5