Sex workers but no Red-light Area in Nagaland
- Part 2 -

Dr. R.B. Thohe Pou *

When I came to learn from the local dailies that there about 1000 sex workers in Mokokchung, my heart is literarily bleeding. After the sex-workers news was published, I have been following up to read the rejoinder from the concern Naga people but I did not find any rejoinder nor apologizing news from DC for more than a week and finally I came to conclude that the figure must be correct as the DC also from the local people.

And I believe that more than 90% of the people who read the news will assume the figure to be correct. However, after reading my Article Part I by a concern Naga friend, he has mailed to me that there was rejoinder and DC, Mokokchung has apologized for erroneous figure.

I have no authority to question anyone but as a Christian and as a concern Naga citizen, I would like to put up some questions for the concern leaders/government to ponder and tackle the sex-workers problem in Naga inhabited areas and NE India. Who are the main sex workers in Naga inhabited areas? Are they from the local people or immigrants?

Do you want to have red-light area in Naga inhabited areas? What is the main reason for becoming sex-workers in Naga inhabited areas or in NE India? Are they Christians or non-Christians? How many rehabilitation centers are there for the sex-workers in Naga inhabited areas?

Should we allow having red light area in Naga-land/Naga inhabited areas? How the sex-worker problem can be solved before forming a red light area? How many NGOs are working for sex workers and how to tackle the sex workers problem is now become a social concern?

Some suggestions for solving sex workers problems:

It is very encouraging to learn that Miqlat Ministry, which is part of the women's wing of the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) is actively involve in counseling the sex workers in Dimapur. As a Christian, we are all responsible to help the sex workers to bring them back to the mainstream of the society. In addition to Christian Ministry and NGOs, the tribe leaders also need to involve in solving the sex-workers problem.

(1) Spiritual counseling: From a Christian perspective, spiritual counseling can be one of the important attributes to help the sex workers to bring back to the mainstream of the society. The word of God has the power to change the heart of the people; even the stony heart of a murderer also can be changed. The Churches in Naga inhabited areas need to pray for the sex-workers and the people who are helping them to bring back to the main stream. The Christian leaders need to have one-to-one Bible studies and counseling with the sex-workers and pray for them. Teaching Bible to them can be one of the best solutions to help them to bring to the main stream.

(2) Personal/Social Counseling: Not everyone wants to listen to the word of God. "For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed" (John 3:30). There are some people who do not want to listen to the word of God and they don't want to see even the man of God. In this case, the NGOs and other social leaders will be helpful for them to change their lives. The word of God has the power to change the life of man but both the believers and non-believers need rehabilitation and counseling as it takes time for healing. Counseling and inviting them to rehabilitation center will help them to come out from their present bondage.

(3) Legal Action: Some people need spiritual and personal counseling but there will be some people who will never listen to spiritual and personal counseling. In this case, we may need some legal actions to be taken on them. There are also some people who do not fear God nor fear anyone until the legal is taken on them; they realize and repent only when they feel pain physically.

Some of the legal actions:

(a). Police force: The State Police involvement in checking all the illegal and detrimental activities in the state/society will be helpful. All those women and men involving in illegal sexual activities should be arrested and send to jail or rehabilitation center. However, this we should we need to do with love and care as we love them and want them to come back to the main stream of the society.

(b) Underground leaders: As the undergrounds also running a parallel government in Naga inhabited areas, it would be good if they also involve in checking the illegal activities of the sex-workers. If the underground are sincerely working for the people and for a better society, their prompt action will help to rescue the sex-workers problem.

(c) Naga customary law: We need to apply the Naga customary whether the sex-workers are Nagas or non-Nagas as it is found in Naga inhabited areas. In Naga society, generally the rapist, murderer etc are ex-communicated or expelled from the village and we may also need to implement a suitable customary law to the sex-workers.

(d) Tribe leaders' involvement:

Sometime the unsolicited advices leads to unwanted troubles and many other people who are not from their own clan or tribe may no like to give any advice or do counseling. All the Nagas are one and all the Naga leaders may want to solve the sex-workers problem but sometime, due to too much clans and tribes in Naga community, it becomes a hindrance to give any unsolicited advice. It will be also good if all the tribe leaders work together and help them to bring back to mainstream of the society. In a community like Naga having diverse clans and tribes, the best model for controlling or helping the Naga people in general will be controlling or helping their own tribe people.

It is alleged that there are also sex-workers in other places in Naga inhabited areas and the concern leaders, and those who love our community need to join their hands to eradicate the sex-workers while the number is still ignorable. The present sex-worker issue is a great embarrassment for all the Nagas and it will be more embarrassing in the future for a Christian community like Naga if we do not solve the problem.

If the above suggestions do not work out to solve the sex-workers problem in Naga inhabited areas, the ultimate solution will be leaving them to the hand of HIV and AIDS for their final judgment. Today, it becomes a well known saying, 'Nagaland for Christ' but this Nagaland for Christ should not be changed into 'Nagaland for Sex-workers' due to our shortsighted vision and selfish love for our own jobs and careers.

Concluded ...

Read Sex workers but no Red-light Area in Nagaland - Part 1