In the heart of Madhya Pradesh, Banchhada community grapples with a legacy of exploitation that has persisted for generations. Despite a cultural backdrop that celebrates the birth of daughters,the reality for many young girls is starkly different. They are often thrust into sex work as soon as they reach puberty, a tradition that has been passed down through their families.
Savitri,a 40-year-old former sex worker, reflects on her own experience and the determination she felt to break the cycle for her daughters. "I had decided that my daughters would never live life I had. They would live with dignity," she recalls . After years of struggling in the profession,Savitri eventually left sex work behind. Today,her elder daughter works with a non-governmental organization (NGO) and is preparing for a police exam, while her younger daughter aims to enter medical school.
The Banchhada community, which numbers around 25,000 across 78 villages in Mandsaur, Neemuch,and Ratlam,is classified as a Scheduled Caste in India. This classification came after the community was labeled a 'criminal tribe' by the British under the Criminal Tribes Act of 1871. Despite being de-notified in 1952, stigma remains, and many families continue to rely on the income generated through sex work .
Akash Chouhan,who heads the Jan Shaurya Social Welfare and Development Society,estimates that around 10,000 women from the Banchhada community, including approximately 3,000 girls,are currently trapped in this cycle of exploitation. He notes that girls often drop out of school after the 8th or 9th grade, pressured by family members to contribute financially. "Community elders protect the practice in the name of tradition," Chouhan explains.
Radhika, a current sex worker,describes how girls are conditioned from a young age to accept their fate . "I quit school on my own after Class 9 and began working," she says . For those who resist,the consequences can be severe,involving both physical and emotional abuse from family members.
Along State Highway 156,which connects Banchhada villages, the visibility of sex work is stark. Girls, some appearing underage, stand along the roadside, while older women monitor the scene from their homes . In Jaitpura village,an elderly woman openly offers her granddaughters to passing cars,stating, "It will cost you ₹300 for 10 minutes, but I will take ₹100 as my tip." This transactional nature of their lives is normalized within community.
Sex workers often avoid hotels due to the risk of police raids and violence from clients. Instead, many have created makeshift rooms in their homes to conduct business more safely. The owner of a dhaba in Ratlam's Dhodar village openly admits to facilitating arrangements for clients,providing a range of services based on price and age.
Shivangi,a former sex worker who now works with the government’s Women and Child Development Department, shares her traumatic experiences. After enduring violence during a client meeting in 2003, she eventually found a way out of sex work through her involvement with an NGO. "Over the next few years,my mindset began to change as I got exposed to a life outside my community," she says .
The roots of sex work in Banchhada community can be traced back to British colonial rule, when men were often coerced into providing women in exchange for their release from police custody. This historical context has contributed to the normalization of sex work as a means of survival for many families .
Today,the Banchhadas remain marginalized, facing discrimination in education,employment, and housing . Kanupriya, a counselor with Jan Shaurya, notes that many community members experience job rejections upon revealing their identity. "Schools often deny admissions to Banchhada children, fearing it could disrupt the atmosphere of their institution," she states.
Efforts to improve the situation for the Banchhada community have been met with challenges. Aditi Garg,the former Collector of Mandsaur,emphasizes administration's commitment to bridging the gap . However, deeply entrenched stigma and economic reliance on sex work complicate these initiatives. The cycle of exploitation continues, leaving many young girls with few options for a better future.
