An appendicitis operation forced her to go home and during that period, her husband remarried. While waiting for the bus home from Solapur, she was gang-raped by five men. I had to enter this line as at least now I have some security,' she said. The women here have formed their own collective and have taken a strict stand against child prostitution. One of the major traffickers of the area, she has contacts all over Karnataka.
Most women arrive here after a few months of attaining puberty.
There seems to be no obvious pimping or trading here in the literal sense of the word, but there exists a well-entrenched system of contacts and a strong network. G accepts only devdasis, widows or those women whose marriages have broken up. When I go back home, I go in full regalia, lots of jewellery, heavy saris and people are very impressed. I leave word with families. If the families are in dire straits, the girls will come to me.