Essay on Separate Schools & Hostels for Children of Prostitutes in India !
The children of prostitutes, if not segregated from their mothers, may land into the career of prostitution which may lead to aggravate juvenile delinquency. Therefore, a suggestion has been mooted out from some quarters that these children should be brought up in separate schools or hostels exclusively meant for the purpose.
The question of feasibility of establishing separate schools and hostels for prostitute’s children came up for consideration before the Supreme Court in a social action writ petition in Gaurav Jain v. Union of India. Answering in the negative, the Apex Court held that segregating prostitute’s children by locating separate schools and providing separate hostels would not be in the interest of such children.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
The Court observed that “normally prostitutes do not want children to be born to them. But once born, it is in the interest of the children and society to separate them from their mothers and they be allowed to mingle with others and become a part of society. They should not be permitted to live in undesirable surroundings of prostitute houses”. Particularly, the young girls whose body and mind are likely to be abused with growing age for being admitted to profession of their mothers should be separated from the vicious surroundings of prostitute houses.
The Supreme Court reiterated its earlier stand in Vishal Jeet v. Union of India and refrained itself from expressing any opinion on the issue of rehabilitation of the children of the prostitutes through separate schools or hostels for them. The Court, however, issued direction to constitute a Committee to examine the problem and report to the Court.
In yet another public interest litigation writ under Article 32 of the Constitution, namely, Gaurav Jain v. Union of India and others, the Supreme Court reiterated its earlier stand seeking improvement in plight of child prostitutes and children of prostitutes and observed that “it is the duty of the State and all voluntary non-government organisations and public spirited persons to come to their aid to retrieve them from prostitution, rehabilitate them with helping hand to lead a life of dignity of person, self-employment, education, financial support. Marriage and acceptance by the family is another important input to rekindle faith of self-respect and self-confidence in them”.
The work of rescue and rehabilitation of the child prostitutes and children should be assigned to the Department of Women & Child Welfare under the Ministry of Welfare & Human Resources which should devise schemes for proper and effective implementation of reformative schemes.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
In addition, the Supreme Court appointed a Committee to enquire into the problem of children of fallen women and submit a report. Consequent to the report submitted by the committee the Court held that the directions given in the order, aim not only at giving benefits to the children but also to root out the very source of the problem and the Government should evolve a suitable programme of action for this purpose.