Prostitute Owners

Socials surroundings of malkins (prostitute owners) in the red light area, Sonagachi, Kolkata

To find out the cause for taking up the profession of CSW
To find out the cause for becoming a malkin
To find out the relationship between the malkins and the CSWs working under them

Methodology

Personal interview of each malkin was taken with the help of a structured questionnaire
Interview was conducted by the doctors of PHPA programme on whom malkins had full confidence
All interviews was taken in closed door and the privacy was maintained
Malkins were allowed to speak at length about their personal life
- Poverty in combination with other factors, such as, abused or left by the husband leads to take up the profession of CSW
- A CSW acquired the status of a malkin either improving their economic status after working as CSW for a longer period or economic support rendered by her babu (lover) to take a house or rooms on rental basis
- Participating malkins have good emotional relationship with the CSWs working under them
  Malkins know about PHPA clinic of SBDCH and appreciated their activities
- Malkins showed main concern about the protection from the HIV/AIDS and also a safe place for the children of their own and other CSWs
  President of SBDCH meeting with the European team