Lovely Institute of Technology (Architecture)

Chehru, Phagwara, Punjab.

Thesis Report

Thesis Guide
Mr. Christopher Bergeron

Name of the Student

ISHAN JUNEJA (7081515950) Batch:-2007-2012 Date: - 7th May 2012

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Lovely Institute of Technology (Architecture)

Chehru, Phagwara, Punjab.

Approval Certificate
I hereby certify that the following study is approved as a credible work on the approved subject, carried out and presented in a manner sufficiently to warrant its acceptance as a prerequisite to the degree for which it has been submitted.

It is to be understood that by this approval the undersigned does not necessarily endorse or approve any statement made, opinion expressed or conclusion drawn therein, but approves the study for the purpose of which it is submitted himself as to the requirement laid down by the thesis committee.

Student Name

Dean of Dept.

Ishan Juneja (7081515950)

Dr. Rupinder Singh

Thesis Report

An attempt to understand the life-world contained/sustained through the MCD School at GB road, while developing possible architectural manifestations through the same

Ishan Juneja Semester 10th Lovely Institute of Technology Architecture

Table of Contents

1. Introduction 2. Reasons for legalisation and regulation of Prostitution 3. Factors that lead women into Prostitution 4. Problems Faced By Women 5. Prostitution in Delhi 6. Site Selection 7. Reasons for the selection of this specific site 8. Site Data 9. Climatic Data of the Site 10. Details of the Programme 11. Conclusion 12. Bibliography

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Introduction

Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for money. It is considered as the oldest profession on earth1 but the legal status of prostitution varies from country to country, from being a punishable crime to a regulated profession. Prostitution in India is a serious social problem and its solution has been rendered difficult by the problem of poverty. Prostitution is widely rampant in India and its main markets are in the big cities. The statistics available on the number of prostitutes operating in the country is not exact because there is so much of clandestine prostitution that the situation is horrifying. A very accurate, comprehensive picture of prostitution in India is not available since sexual exploitation and sale of women and children are mostly unreported crimes. The current laws in India that legislate sex workers are fairly ambiguous. It is a system where prostitution is legally allowed to thrive, but which attempts to hide it from the public. The primary law dealing with the status of sex workers is the 1956 law referred to as the The Immoral Traffic (Suppression) Act (SITA). According to this law, sex work in India is neither legal nor illegal; it is tolerated since prostitutes can practice their trade privately but cannot legally solicit customers in public. In particular, the law forbids a sex worker to carry on her profession within 200 yards of a public place. Unlike as is the case with other professions, however, sex workers are not protected under normal workers laws, and are not entitled to minimum wage benefits compensation for injury or other benefits that are common in other types of work. They do, however, possess the right to rescue and rehabilitation if they desire and possess all the rights of other citizens. In practice this is not common. The Indian Penal Code (IPC) which predates the SITA is often used to charge sex workers with vague crimes such as ''public indecency'' or being a ''public nuisance'' without explicitly defining what these consist of. Recently the old law has been amended as The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act or PITA. As said above that legal status of prostitution varies from country to country, here are some examples i.e. NEVADA, US: - In the United States each state has the power to decide whether or not prostitution is legal in the state. In all US states, apart from Nevada, the buying and selling of sexual services is illegal and usually classified as misdemeanor. Nevada allows licensed brothels; but only in some parts of it. NETHERLANDS, EUROPE: - Prostitution in Netherlands is legal and regulated. Operating a brothel is also legal. SENEGAL, AFRICA: -It is also legal and regulated in Senegal. Sex workers must be atleast 21 years of age, register with the police, carry a valid sanitary card, and test negative for STDs.2

The prostitution of women and girls - Page 5; Ronald B. Flowers - 1998

Legalization of prostitution has both positive and negative effects as this can be explained by quoting some of the examples of countries which legalized prostitution and after which the rate of rape decreased rapidly and some countries which closed the legal brothels later got an increase in rate of rape, example: "It is estimated that if prostitution were legalized in the United States, the rape rate would decrease by roughly 25% for a decrease of approximately 25,000 rapes per year....

"A study conducted in Queensland... showed a 149% increase in the rate of rape when legal brothels were closed in 1959, while other offenses against the person by males increased only 49%."

"Three cities which allowed open prostitution experienced a decline in rape after prostitution was again prohibited. Rapists include men who do not patronize prostitutes. Rapists include men who have 'girlfriends,' or are married, or living with women. Statistical studies of reported rapes show that the majority of rapists are well below the age of males who most frequently use prostitutes. Finally, in Vietnam, brothels for the American military were officially sanctioned and incorporated into the base-camp recreation areas and yet G.I. rape and sexual abuse of Vietnamese women and girls is one of the most atrocious chapters of violence in U.S. history."3

In the ancient time there was a practice of having Nagarvadhu meaning bride of the city/town (An example being the very famous nagarvadhu Amrapali from the city of Vaishali). Also, there were Devdasi (the slave of the deity); they can be better understood as temple prostitutes. Prostitution has been a part of Indian Culture from a very long period; it can be traced back to archaeological findings of Indus Valley. The bronze figure of dancing girl from Mohenjo-Daro represents a

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httpindiatoday.intoday.instorysupreme-court-prostitution1145521.html http://prostitution.procon.org/view.answers.php?questionID=000122

sacred prostitute carrying out her duties within the precincts of the temple of some mother goddess and this cult was quite well established in the Indus Valley Civilization.

In the realms of history we have had prostitutes who enjoyed celebrity hood. The law, indignantly, is bent on curbing the profession but has been unsuccessful so far. The truth that the elimination of prostitution is not possible was even recognized by the Supreme Court of India in month of December, 2009. The court had also pointed out that nowhere else in the world prostitution is dealt with by punitive measures. The laws governing prostitution in our country are proving to be detrimental to the interest of women instead of relieving them from the clutches of traffickers, middlemen, local police, brothel owners etc. In a move which could lead to the formal regulation of prostitution in the country, the Supreme Court is mulling laying down "conditions conducive" for sex workers to carry on their profession with dignity. A bench presided over by Justice Markandey Katju, which had earlier talked about rehabilitation of sex workers, do sought suggestions on formulating conditions which would enable those who wished to "continue working as sex workers" to do so "with dignity." Holding that the right to live with dignity was a
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Constitutional right, the bench constituted a panel comprising senior advocates and NGOs to look into the problems faced by sex workers and give suggestions to protect their fundamental rights.4 "Society must have sympathy towards the sex workers and must not look down upon them. They are also entitled to a life of dignity in view of Article 21 of the Constitution,"5

The Law governing prostitution in India is Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act which is a 1986 amendment to the primary law passed in 1950 {known as the Immoral Traffic (Suppression) Act}. The law does not criminalize prostitution per se but only organized form of prostitution is against the law. If a woman uses attributes of her body voluntarily and individually she goes unpunished. But the law prohibits/criminalize Seduction/solicitation of customer. Prostitution anywhere near a public place Publication of phone number of call girls. Organized form of prostitution i.e. a brothel, pimps, Prostitution rings etc. A sex worker being below 18 years of age. Procurement and trafficking of women.

We can conclude that if a prostitute works for self and uses her own premises for entertaining clients she is conducting herself lawfully! But then why do we often see video footage on T.V. where a sex worker and her clientele being herded into the police jeep? Here comes the shady picture of police who might not book the sex worker and her client under the above mentioned act, they do it under provisions like public indecency, public nuisance etc. of the Indian Penal Code.

The only way to guarantee a better life to prostitutes is legalization and regularization of the industry. Though there is denial of the fact that such progressive step is not a cake walk for the government considering the traditional mindset and moral benchmarks of Indian society. But keeping in mind the higher interest, and to avoid the undesirable consequences, government has to initiate such a regulation with a stance that prostitution is not morally heinous and it cannot be abolished.

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ndiatoday.intoday.in/story/supreme-court-prostitution/1/145521.html Justice Katju

Reasons for legalisation and regulation of Prostitution

HIV/AIDS among prostitutes has emerged as a huge cause of concern. According to a WHO report of 2001, it is estimated that 50% of prostitutes in Mumbai (the city being hub to the largest number of prostitutes in the country) are HIV positive! They contract the virus from their infected customers and in all probability communicate it to other healthy customers. One can easily imagine the havoc unregulated prostitution can cause! If legalized and regulated, awareness programs teaching the prostitutes the importance of protected sex and frequent health checkups can be organized. Legalizing prostitution shall be a primary channel to vent out the sexual energies of men who otherwise content themselves by means of rape and other sexual violations of women in their vicinity. Regulated prostitution shall put a check upon the brutal trafficking of girls where they are trafficked without their consent and are forced to serve the clients. They are compelled to survive in poor living conditions and even basic and essential rights such as right to education, right to freedom, right to form association, right against exploitation etc. are denied to them. Legalization shall mean access to these rights. The middlemen or Dalaals who procure and sell girls for purposes of prostitution are a menace. They sell women like chattels in lieu of commission. Legalization and regulation by government shall mean abolition of the undesirable figure of middlemen. Due to no effective legislation to curb child trafficking. If prostitution is legalized, brothels indulging in child prostitution could be penalized. This shall put a check a child trafficking and prostitution. Prostitutes are highly dependent on police for uninterrupted continuance of their activities. Policemen extort money from brothels and prostitutes to let them work in peace. Any prostitute who refuses the bribe is caught red handed and put behind bars for charges like public indecency, public nuisance etc under IPC. Due to such acts of police these women have to face monetary exploitation also. If prostitution is legalized and regulated such exploitation shall come to end.6

www.mightylaws.in/229/prostitution-legalized-regulated-india

Factors that lead women into Prostitution

Prostitution in India is due to: poverty, Unemployment, lack of proper reintegration services, lack of options stigma and adverse social attitudes; family expectations and pressure', resignation and acclimation to the lifestyle. Majority of sex workers in India work as prostitutes due to lack of resources to support themselves or their children. Most do not choose this profession out of preference but out of necessity, often after the breakup of a marriage or after being disowned and thrown out of their homes by their families. they come from shear poverty stricken areas...no education...large families ...parents not fit to look after themlewd into coming to big cities by the dalals(pimps) on the protest that they will provide them good household jobs or some provide some job by placement agency7 there has been never one reason.people who are here are the poorer...this is their strategy of survival.each individual may have different reasons..this has been a survival for entire community and this is the way they live..some are forcedbecause there are people who are willing to pay for this girls get fascinated after seeing the amount of money which is generated in this profession..8 The above excerpt brings following things into glaring focus. Economic condition of these girls is not at all stable and they do not have enough money to fulfil their needs. They are not provided with any sought of education which they can use for earning a job or handful amount of money and they get very easily convinced by the people. Size of family is so large that parents are unable to look after them so for the sake of their siblings they land into this trade so they can give better living lifestyle atleast to them if they are not lucky. Sometimes they are illegally trafficked or by coercion into this profession against their will. Some of them are born in this type of environment were prostitution is a part of their culture or religion (ex:- Devdasi, Bedia community). At the end it has been observed that no women is willing to enter in this trade some circumstances of their life force them to follow this path which has only entry but no exit as once they are a part of this they are forced by many to remain silent and follow what the master says to them.

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Based on an interview with Ms.Shalini (Superintendent Nari Niketan, Nirmal Chhaya Complex, Delhi Based on an interview with Ms.Anuja Aggrawal (Socialist, Faculty member Department of Sociology, Delhi University.

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Problems Faced By Women

once you entered this trade even if you leave it the stigma is not gonna leave you.. Society will not accept you as the way you want.9

Just like any other trade this one has also got many problems faced by sex workers which are related to their profession and affect them.

Related to Identity

Due to this profession sometimes a feeling of low self esteem arises in their mind that they are not like others as they do not receive the love and affection which they feel hungry for. There have been many cases in which people utter foul words to them and they are regarded as Kharab Aurat or Bad Women. Even the society does not accept them with welcoming hands yet they still want to use them for their own sake and desires. They face Dual identity problems as some of them do not want that people should know what they do? Where they go? Where they are from? Sometimes it has been seen that while they are in the trade they even forget their real name. and then bank officials say, ok,.you can send the women.But you know, their saving is all black moneythe bank managers are open to doing businessbut they want to live an anonymous life.so they dont want to give their real name .can she open an account with her business name?.....as no one respects them.. 10

Due to Economic Status

Girls are constantly beaten by the brothel owners and are told that they have a debt on them which they gave to the pimp when they bought her so she has to clear that in order to get free from here. They are even exploited by the pimps and police officials. Girls are not even able to save money for them as they do not have any safe place or either maximum amount of their income is kept by owner.

Based on an interview with Ms.Anuja Aggrawal (Socialist, Faculty member Department of Sociology, Delhi University. 10 Interview with Ms. Suman from Nari Niketan

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Miscellaneous Problems

Due to this trade they get isolated from their families which now do not except them as their part because they feel it will ruin their status among the society. They suffer from unwanted pregnancies, STDs (Sexually transmitted diseases) like AIDS. They acquire bad habits like chewing tobacco, smoking, consuming alcohol. They live in unhygienic conditions due to which they even get health problems.

Interview of a Sex Worker

Name: - Mrs.Reema Age: - 45 Educational Qualification:-Illiterate Marital Status:-Married Native Place:- Madhya Pradesh Religion:- Hindu

Family Background She belongs from a low social economic background her father was a farmer. They had very little earning in their house and were 7 family members all were illiterate. She got the married at the age of 15 her husband was a tailor in a nearby town. ..I didnt want to get married but after looking the family condition got married to lighten the burden on my fathers shoulder. She had two kids one boy and girl. Husbands income was not enough to fulfil the needs due to which she decided to come to Delhi for work and landed in GB road with other village women.

Present Living Condition Presently she is running the brothel. She has got a small cubicle which consists of permanent cemented bed fixed between the two opposite walls.

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Prostitution in Delhi

In Delhi prostitution exists in all possible forms but the most recognised area for this flesh trade is GB Road which is located in the heart of the city and lies between two major railway stations i.e. New Delhi Railway Station and Old Delhi Railway station. GB road is a linear development, which now stands in the stead of the Old city fort wall (deriving its name from the George Bastion). During the day, GB road function predominantly like Delhis largest hardware market which fronts an 80ft wide road opposite to which there is a huge Railway Coach Care centre. The ground floor of this linear development is packed with deep shops having small frontages, arranged side by side. On the rear side lies Fasil road which also consists of small hardware shops and a Mosque. At night the whole scenario of GB road changes as it transforms into one of the biggest Red Light District of India where women are standing either on balconies, windows or streets and calling men towards them for fulfilling their sex desire. The overall perspective of GB road is horrifying as the buildings standing there are from the time of preindependence which is having a shabby outlook as nobody ever cared about beautifying this place. Narrow staircases lead the upper storey where brothels are located. Earlier there used to be balconies in front but they are covered by temporary sheds and a small opening is provided with iron rods as grills on to protect the escape of girls from the brothels. Planning of rooms was done properly having a good amount of circulation of air but now we can see the buildings are enclosed in a rectangular box which only has one entrance i.e. from the front side. Today GB road is further called under the name of Shradhanand Marg on paper, though in everyones knowledge it still exists as GB road. It is estimated that there are about 3000-4000 women on GB road, operating out of approximately 96 brothels spread over a linear stretch but now no. of kothas(brothels) is declining because of regular raids by Police due to which majority of women are shifting to other form of prostitution to save themselves from exploitation due to Police and Goons.The flesh trade on GB road runs under the name of Mujra which is a form of dance originated by tawaif (courtesans) during the Mughal era, it was traditionally performed at mehfils and in special houses called kothas.11 During the Indian Rebellion of 1857 (better known as the Indian Mutiny) Mujra performances provided an opportunity for mutineers to meet and many tawaif were also actively involved in the movement. As a result, many kothas were confiscated by the British after the mutiny, disrupting the traditional tawaif succession. 12 By the early 1900s, many tawaif had moved into the prostitution industry as the traditional system had broken down.

11 12

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mujra http://books.google.com/books?id=OVw22RzAnaEC&pg=PA148&dq=kotha+mujra

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GB Road New Delhi Railway Station Ajmeri Gate Paharganj

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Site Selection
The site identified to take this project forth is area of land which is currently occupied by the MCD School, in front of which also exist a small police chowki. It is fronted by the expanse taken up by the railway warehouse. To its back lies the residential fabric. At this strategic position, it opens up an immense potential to mediate between many lives, livelihoods and their attached aspirations.

Description
The MCD school has existed in this locality for well over the last 50 years or so. It used to cater children from grades one to five, and approximately another 60-70 children from the neighboring brothels. The latter's number frequently decreased drastically and later on resulted on its closure. The school was operating from an old structure built around the time of independence. it is simple structure consisting of ten classrooms, a verandah that's serves as a corridor, a play area and a common ground. Open space is minimal and comprises of only the ten ' feet of the front set-back. Two of these ten rooms were allotted to the JWP as a crche. It was difficult allotting these two rooms for JWP. as many officials, within the education ministry as well as the MCD were unwilling to assign a space for the children of sex workers, as they abhorred the notion of the former mixing with|normal'' school children which came from other reputed families'. This can be quoted as one of the many examples of the discrimination that these children have to face from others. Due to negligence and discrimination the school got radically started crumbling and roof of one of the rooms got caved and most of the school got sealed due to safety issues as well as a takeover of the land by the local keeper.

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Reasons for the selection of this specific site

The school becomes an extremely important node; site on GB road. It marks the literal as well as figurative centre, akin to the heart and soul of GB road. It represents far more than a school as is usually understood through textbook meanings. For the women living and working on GB road it is their ticket to freedom, it is the balm for their wounds and it is a manifestation, the stepping stone to all their aspirations. Many women send their children to the school, and especially the create being run by the JWP13 in the hope that with an education. these children will eventually be able to earn well in Respectable'' jobs and be able to pull their mothers out of the quagmire they are in. at the same moment it is also a place for them to send their children during the day so as to keep them out of the brothels and away from the activities and life within.

At the same moment the school run by the NGO has also become a huge part of their lives serving as an impromptu counseling center, a temporary shelter in bad times. a clinic, and among other things. a place where they can find a sympathetic shoulder in the women running the crche.

The children also have an immense attachment to the crche. For them it is an island of security and a method of adding a little bit of structure to their overwhelming lifestyles, where a sudden raid in the brothels may cause them to take unexpected leaves. However to know that they can still walk into the school run by the NGO at any tilde they like and be fed and looked after goes a long way.

In this manner, in a red light area which is GB road that's adheres to many roles, this small junction that holds the seat of power on GB road, sitting right at its centre, also illustrates the multiplicity of function and meaning attached to it .

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JWP- joint women programme has been working in the area from the last two decades. They currently run a two room crche for the sex workers children, free of cost, they provide them with meals and a place to spend the better part of their day.

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Focusing on the brief

Development of the primary school/crche serving anywhere around 50 children with the requisite facilities. Being sensitive to special needs of the school. For ex. even the provision of a cafeteria takes on a whole new meaning under these circumstances. Developing a small vocational centre for both women and older children which can serve simultaneously like a hobby center. Developing some basic medical, legal facilities for NGOs to operate out of. Concentrating on the retaining/ developing of other facilities operating on that site such as Police station.

Essentially focus on asking the question: What are the multiple meanings, that the women and children on GB road attach to the MCD School and how can one develop it further within an architectural scope using the tools of architecture?

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Site Data

As per the zonal plans, Shradhanand Marg or GB road forms on edge of the walled city. It is the periphery of zone A-17 and A-18. According to the zonal plan and master plan-2021, GB road comes under a mixed use area, especially since it is served by an 80ft wide road fronting it. The MCD School sits approximately at the centre of the edge of Zone-A17. This particular site acts as a small complex with the school, a temple and a police station. At approximately 50 yards there is a mosque within the immediate vicinity. In terms of facilities, there are two Police Chowkis on this stretch one of which is on the site. The zonal police station is at KAMALA MARKET. The nearest fire station is situated at Daryaganj. Most people are dependent on the GIRDHARI LAL HOSPITAL, LNJP HOSPITAL, thought most of the sex workers end up going to private practitioners for reasons of discrimination. There are no health and family welfare centers within the area, except for the informal meetings held by the NGOs operating within this area. Most of the parking in this area serving the Hardware market and brothels is done along the street which causes heavy traffic congestion on this road as there is no space left for the other passing by vehicles to pass this area.

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Climatic Data of the Site

LOCATION: LATITUDE: 28 35 LONGITUDE: 77 12 E

CLIMATE: The area lies in the composite zone, hence denoting a hot, dry summer and a cold winter. AVERAGE TEMPERATURES:14 Maximum mean temperature: 44.9 C Minimum mean temperature: 2.7 C Highest mean temperature: 47.2 C Lowest mean temperature: -0.6 C RAINFALL: Mean rainfall is 714.2mm.15 WIND DIRECTION: South East North West

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http://www.imd.gov.in/section/climate/safdarjung2.html http://www.timeanddate.com/weather/india/new-delhi

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Details of the Programme

Based on a series of interviews which included both primary sources as the Sex Workers of GB road and secondary sources such as the NGOs working on site, as well as certain observations and interpretations the programme took on the following shape:-

1. SCHOOL Children abused/ill-treated at the residence. Prone to psychological trauma or too early an introduction into adulthood. Need for a safe environment especially for the girl child. Need to be educated to escape their circumstances. For the sex-workers, this is a form of social security, as they believe that their children will pull them of this life if they get educated. 2. VOCATIONAL + TRAINING CENTRE It will help them in learning new skills rather selling their bodies. Many women who managed to leave or got kicked out have no means of stabilizing themselves. Need to empower themselves. For those who choose to stay in brothels: means of supplanting their incomes. One of the first ways of integrating is by allowing the woman to stand on her own feet, and return her dignity and respectability. It is difficult for them to get some other work as they are illiterate and do not know anything from which they can earn money. 3. MEDICAL FACILITY Larger government hospitals are daunting. Private practitioners charge extra money from them and exploit them also. Proper medical facility will help in decreasing the AIDS count and many other STVs. Timely treatment will provided to them with minimal expenses.
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4. KITCHEN Most of the women have to pay for food on a daily basis. Some women used to depend on the MCD School for the meal but the school does not exist anymore. Healthy food will help them in bringing up their children well. The area where there food is cooked are not having healthy and clean environment as they are not clean.

Apart from these certain ancillary functions we can provide them with a Co-operative Bank where the women could get together and with the help of an NGO and manage their own funds.

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Conclusion

Most people assume that re-integration happens through forcibly pulling someone out of their circumstances and placing them in sterile surroundings which would give them another chance in the outside world. When one tries to understand how this notion sits with the sex-workers of GB road one realizes that such a step, often just increases their trauma and usually brings them back to the same circumstances that they were trying to escape. Another notion which may work, for which I find some support within certain NGOs and people involved with helping sex-workers is that of empowerment : physical, psychological and most importantly financial. If a woman can be convinced and facilitated to take charge of her life, by allowing her a safe environment where she can learn skills that would allow her to support her own self and ensure a good atmosphere for her child, she would probably be able to break out of the bounds of her life with far more easiness.

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Bibliography
Malpani, C. (2007). from veils to windows. Delhi: TVB School of Habitat Studies. Nair, P. (2002-2003). A report on trafficking of women and children in india. Delhi: NHRC- UNIFEM. Pathak, U. (2003). life perspective of sex workers. Delhi: Delhi University school of Sociology.

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