Pilgrimage centres turning into sex hotspots
A nationwide study by NGO Gram Niyojan Kendra commissioned by the ministry for women and child development — that studied 68 places of tourist interest — found that after major cities and places for sightseeing, pilgrim centres were a growing hub.
Incidentally, the report said that domestic tourists were “overwhelmingly involved†in sex with commercial sex workers while foreign tourists were “engaged†in paedophilia and sex with minors through short-term marriages. The study, however, clarified that foreign tourists visiting India for sex were restricted to a few places rather than the entire country.
A study by Bangalore-based NGO Equations earlier this year has said that increasing number of cases of child abuse were being reported from pilgrim sites like Tirupati, Guruvayoor and Puri. The study — ‘Protecting Children from Sexual Exploitation in Tourism: The Indian Context’ — looked into exploitation of male children, but pointed out that the same was true for women as well.
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