AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

        If poverty-stricken fisherwomen in north Chennai sold their kidney to meet the daily needs, then those from Andhra Pradesh, who came here to avail better and cheap treatment for their ailing children, have had to sell something else —— their bodies—— for their survival. Again, it is the unholy hand of some brokers, who hover around hospitals like vulture, that pushes them into this flesh trade.

        At the Children's Hospital, Egmore, around 30 children from other States had been admitted for treatment over the last six months. Of them 25 were from AP. Most of them are from economically weaker sections of the society, and in most of the cases, the man of the family had left leaving the mother and child to fend for themselves here.

        It is the generic story of all, with only the minor details changing between the women. Language being a barrier to find a job here, they finally end up selling themselves just for the sake of money.

        According to Kamaleshwari from Guntur 'husband and I along with our one year old child came to Chennai for getting better treatment. As he had to continue his work in AP, he left us saying that he would come to Chennai soon. But he hasn't.' In order to seek a way out and in sheer desperation, she is now involved in selling herself for the perverts for a meagre amount of Rs 200 per day.

        For the 21-year-old Neelavathi, from Nellore district life in Chennai was equally difficult without knowing the language. She says 'there were days when I had nothing to eat'. Her ordeal began six months ago when her husband left her with her 2-year-old kid who was suffering from a cardiovascular disease.

        Sadly, Neelavathi had no idea that she was being 'sold' into prostitution. She was only trying to improve her kid's life. After five months of working as an enslaved prostitute for a meagre amount, she now sits in a corner of this hospital still awaiting for her husband's return.

        Pramila from Cuddapah district says 'we don't go to lodges or hotels with any man but all this happens routinely in a dark open space near this hospital. However I was caught once by the police but they left me as I appealed to them that it was only for my child's survival'.

        According to police sources they had caught two of the women involving in this trade last week. But they left them 'due to humanitarian considerations'.

        Many who unknowingly enter into the sex trade in the process are forced to work for months or years without being provided any large amount and they endure cruel forms of sexual exploitation. Ultimately, these women end up putting themselves into a position where they may lose not only their basic human right but their lives, as well.

        'Despite selling our body we are still on the streets without our meal,' echo the voices of many victims here.