In Gujarat’s Vadia village, families are trying to break a generations-old cycle of prostitution by arranging engagements for their daughters at a young age. The practice has emerged as an informal way of protecting girls from being drawn into the sex trade that has long affected the community.
A village caught between tradition and change
Vadia, located in Gujarat, is home to around 750 people, many belonging to the traditionally nomadic Sarania community. For generations, women from some families have been pushed into prostitution, while men have reportedly worked as intermediaries who brought customers to the village.
According to a report by The New Indian Express, some families now see early engagement as a way to ensure that girls eventually marry outside the village and avoid entering the sex trade.
While child marriage is prohibited by law, girls in Vadia have reportedly been engaged at ages ranging from seven to 12. Families believe that being engaged or married provides a degree of protection from the pressure to enter prostitution.
Families seek a different future for their daughters
The report highlights the story of a 19-year-old woman who was engaged at 11 and married at 18. Unlike her mother and grandmother, who had been involved in sex work, she is pursuing her education and hopes to become a nurse.
For families in Vadia, such stories represent a possibility of change. However, the reliance on child engagements also underlines the difficult circumstances confronting the community, where poverty, social stigma and limited livelihood opportunities continue to influence families’ choices.
Efforts to break the cycle
Social organisations have been working in Vadia to create alternatives to prostitution. The first mass marriage ceremony was organised in the village in 2012, followed by further initiatives supporting education, agriculture and livelihoods.
According to social worker Mittal Patel, around 90 of 160 families have moved away from the sex trade. Efforts have included improving agricultural land, reviving water sources and providing interest-free loans.
The experience of Vadia reflects the complex challenges involved in breaking an entrenched social cycle, while ensuring that girls have access to education, safety and opportunities beyond exploitation.