Gujarat's fair hot-spot for casual sex

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Gujarat's fair hot-spot for casual sex

Himanshu Kaushik, [30 Aug, 2006 2205hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]

TARNETAR: It is not just villagers and tourists, who flock to

Gujarat's famous Tarnetar fair in Surendranagar district. Sex

workers too made a beeline for the fair, keeping in mind that

thousands of people visit the fair and stay overnight for the entire

duration.

Local residents too have been noticing that areas near the fair

grounds are becoming a hot-spot for casual sex. They point out to

used condoms which litter the approach roads to Tarnetar. However,

this is also taken as a positive sign by them, as it suggests that

safe sex is being practised here!

Arun Dave, who runs an AIDS awareness NGO said, " Stalls for AIDS

awareness are put up here every year and free samples have been

distributed. On an average, about 25,000 free samples were given in

the fair. "

He said that for the last couple of years, DKT, an organisation

spreading awareness about AIDS, has been putting up stalls. This

year too, NGOs from other towns have come to Tarnetar.

He added that sex workers are usually given free condoms, which they

carry to such places.

" Our partner NGOs put up condom stalls to ensure easy access at

fairs like the one in Tarnetar, where a large number of people

gather and there is a possibility of people indulging in sexual

activities. This planning is done from the start to ensure safe sex

practices, " said DM Saxena, director of Gujarat State AIDS Control

Society (GSACS).

The NGOs are correct in presuming that such activities would take

place, because according to a rough estimate, over 500 prostitutes

were reported to be moving at the mela site. However, after having

struck a deal with prospective customers, they would move outside

the venue to the open fields.

One of the sex workers, Saritaben (name changed) said, " Our first

condition is that the customer will have to use a condom. If he

agrees, then only we agree. " According to her, she served over 40-

odd clients during the fair. She said that this activity went on

even in the day time.

Another sex worker Kusumben said, " Our lot generally hails from

Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Surendranagar, Wankaner and Morbi. " According to

Kusumben, the majority of the women are from Morbi.

A member of the organising committee, refusing to be quoted,

admitted that prostitution was on the rise. " After all, what would

one expect, with such a large number of people spending three nights

and four days here, " he added.

Surendranagar superintendent of police SM Katara said, " I am not

aware of such activities. I was there patrolling the mela site, but

did not see any such activity within the mela campus. "

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