Women panel chief against legalising prostitution

Karnataka State Women’s Commission Chairperson Manjula Manasa has opposed the government’s proposed move to legalise prostitution in the State.

Replying to a query at a press conference here on Monday, Manasa said that any move to legalise prostitution for any reason would have multiple adverse impact on society. “It would lead to further degradation of women’s status in society. The government should not legalise prostitution in the State,” she added.

Manasa said that the Devadasi system in Karnataka was in a way society’s approval for prostitution. “We all know how much degeneration this system caused in the society and how women of the downtrodden sections had to suffer for many centuries. If prostitution is legalised, again the victims would be the women from downtrodden, weaker and poor sections of society,” she said.