Imphal, December 14 2009: Close affinity of the border towns of Moreh on the Indian side and Tamu of Myanmar as well as easy accessibility into Moreh from the other side is creating headache to health officials as number of sex workers pouring into Moreh town has been showing signs of gradual increase.

While most of these sex workers are informed to be from the Myanmar side, Moreh being the largest commercial town on the Indian side of the international border is also a place where maximum number of single males stay overnight.

The danger, according to informed sources, is not in the influx of sex workers but the fact that many of them are habitual drug users who indulge in the immoral act to earn money for satisfy their drug thrust.

Apprehension of periodical crackdown by the military junta on the Myanmar side compared to friendlier environment in administrative sense, are the other factors why the sex workers prefer Moreh to sustain the flesh trade, the sources opined.

In the course of a study on the trans-border sex workers, it came to light that majority of the women involved in the flesh trade pass through the international border (Gate No.2) posing as domestic helpers such as cooks and dish/cloth washers and once inside Moreh hotel owners/runners take charge.

At an average, a sex worker charges between Rs 150 to 500 with the rate going up to nearly Rs 2000 if the engagement involves staying overnight.

NGO sources also accounted about 30 sex workers entering Moreh on a daily basis with each of them providing service to about 3/4 customers in a single day.

In a significant disclosure, the sources insisted that the sex workers are paying monthly tax of Rs 500 to the Myanmar Army whereas indian security personnel on the Moreh side are said to form substantial number of customer-base for these sex workers.

Notwithstanding sense of insecurity on the Myanmar soil by the customers, the military authorities reportedly approve flesh trade activities at three brothels within Tamu with eight other brothels home-based.

On the otherhand, information has also been received that among the sex workers there are also many who are from various community of Manipur and their flesh trade crosses the border upto Tamu at the least.

As per record maintained by an NGO run with fundings of MACS, Moreh is home to about 260-270 registered sex workers of whom many are young girls.

Out of these number, 160/170 are said to be Myanmarese.

The NGO on its part is involved in promotional campaigns on use of condoms by the sex workers, checking of HIV prevalence and counselling services.

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