Giving the children of prostitutes their due.

Critical comment is made concerning the plight of prostitutes children in India. Little attention has been paid to these children who are victims of their circumstances from birth, denied the opportunity to be free of their background, and deprived of an environment conducive to healthy physical and psychological development. The children suffer from nutritional deficiencies, minimal health care, nonavailability of basic needs, and social handicaps. Although government has initiated measures to improve conditions for these children, their status isolated them from the mainstream and places them on the lowest social rung. They are also likely to follow in their mothers footsteps, and eventually engage in procurement or pimping. Discrimination among the children is exhibited in education where boys are given priority, in denial of choice in joining a trade for self development, and/or in inheritance where prostitution earnings accrue to sons. The estimate 5,000,000 children of prostitutes in India deserve priority treatment. The mothers' backgrounds divide the children into several categories children of mothers dedicated as Devadasis or joins to fulfill parental religious belief, to combat poverty, or because of social pressures; children of those belonging to communities where prostitution is an accepted practice; those pursuing singing and dancing careers and who are attached to men as concubines for a longer period of time; and those who are hoodwinked into joining the trade. Prostitutes bear children out of a desire to enter into a tangible human relationship that is genuine, meaningful, and lasting. Sometimes children are economic and emotional necessities. There have been government efforts to provide benefits to Devadasi children. In addition, Chapter III of the Juvenile Justice Act attempts to protect neglected juveniles. Other approaches needed are Development Care Centers in every red-light district. Mothers need to realize the importance of keeping children away from the trade. They must also be informed of government programs and learn to value education. A cooperative effort must be undertaken by government and nongovernmental organizations and organizations of prostitutes to improve the future for these children.