The business of prostitution is considered as the oldest profession of world and ubiquitous in all states of India. It is so uniquely managed and operated that it provides learning mechanism for other business to grow. Prostitution refers to the practice of exchanging sexual services for financial remuneration or enjoying cosmopolis lifestyle (Khan, 2010). The objectives of management and operation of any businesses is to deliver effectively and efficiently the services to their clients and the business of prostitution run on principle of satisfaction both psychological and physical. The rendered services not only provided by the women in the society but men too i.e. male prostitutes whose customers are men or women. This business is related and correlated to each other in many ways and among which the customer satisfaction impacts most.

In India prostitution business exist in several forms among which most common is the women who sells the sexual services to heterosexual man, secondly the women who is not related to a married individual but provides sexual services to that individual alone, third men homosexual prostitutes who cater to gay men, fourth are Gigolos who make themselves available to women and the last is lesbians prostitutes which are rarely available in India. Different forms of prostitution follow different strategy depending upon the nature, sources, location and supply of products (Fuchs, 2013). This business attracts the attention of pimps and other stake holders due to its distinctive feature of high return with low investment, recession proof, income with enjoyment and physical satisfaction, no required experience and sustainability. It is all about plights of women where the less is restriction the more is earning. Many service providers in order to have consistency and steady income provides varieties and extra benefits to customers in form of extra hours and even sometimes concession for bulk booking for parties, official and unofficial meetings of various high profiles. The owners of several kiosk (prostitutes owner) usually who charges higher prices for their girls tries to maintain the better coordination with the law and order operators and enactors of the locality in order to have twin benefits i.e. customers safety and control over prostitutes. These two factors are essential element in growth, operation and expansion of prostitution business due to rigid laws and judicial process.

In this business the only person suffer and pay are women (prostitute) and the person who gains numerous are pimps having physical and financial benefits, customers with physical satisfaction and intermediaries benefits and police officials through financial, physical and intermediaries benefits. The major factor which arise the needs of highlighting are how this business are so successfully managed, how it is in operation inspite of several legal, social and law and order barriers and how it is meeting the requirements of their customers. This paper has tries to find out answers of the above issues in context of Indian sex trade industries of major cities like Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Guwahati, Aizawl and Silchar.

METHODOLOGY:

This paper uses both secondary and primary information in order to fulfil its objectives. The secondary information has been collected through the various documentaries, books, journals, articles and prostitution related websites. Since the genuine data cannot be obtained once the respondent identifies the objectives and motive of investigator. Keeping in view this major issue especially in this business, the indirect way has been adopted. Firstly, the data are collected through the shops situated inside as well as nearby brothels especially bettle nuts and medicine shops. Secondly, information has been collected through local agents by paying certain money as charge towards leaking information, third major information were provided by NGOs workers who has already worked in the above brothels under several government and non government programmes such as anti trafficking, HIV, awareness of sexually transmitted diseases, use of condom and training for self sustainability. Lastly, the information is gathered through discussion with some prostitutes, call girls and spa centres. Since the clear picture of this business is not available neither with government and non government agencies fitting any random methodology was not possible. In this sense convenient sampling has been used to fulfil the objectives of study.

Operational and Structural Pyramid:

The business of prostitution is not new in India, it was also present in ancient as well as medieval period. The Indian culture and tradition have shown the presence of prostitutes in different forms and different name over the period of time. According to Hindu mythology, the women are kept for deliberate sexual contacts with devatas and even human being known as Apsaras. They are described as perfect embodiments of beauty, charms, music, dance and establishes multiple sex relations. In the pre Vedic and Vedic age the existence of prostitution in form of dancing girls, sacred prostitutes, Punschali and Mahanangi exist. So, its existence in the current world is quite normal. The way of making supply for the business has also not undergone drastic change as initially in Rig Veda times the girls without any brothers were frequently reduced to prostitution while in current scenario the same the girls not having parents or guardians to take care of them and their needs were frequently forced towards business ( Sinha, 1933). The important factor which continues this business is supply of girls and there exist several monetary and non monetary incentives which continue its uninterrupted supply. The suppliers who commonly known as pimp are categorised under several head depending upon their roles and contribution towards business viz. Primary, secondary and tertiary pimps. This distribution actually plays a key role in successful operation of the business through its supply chain management process. The primary pimps are composed of either individual or group membership. These peoples target the girls or women of mostly young age and keep a watchdog over all movements of them and their family members. These people carry on good homework before execution of their plan. In case of individual pimp the victim is either well known to him or having close relation but in case of group pimps the victim is known or not doesn’t matter because of clear division of individual work. Mostly in case of group pimps the supply of girls are higher due to their better coordination and management. These group pimps keeps good contact with other peoples to keep hidden the kidnapped girls in safe place till the finalisation of money and destination.

Table 1. Pimps: Types, Composition and Structure

Type of Pimps	Average members	Average income per Girl (In Rupees)	Average number of girls	Average Age of Girls
Primary	5 – 12	10,000 – 50,000	2 – 6	12 – 35
Secondary	5 – 20	25,000 – 1,00,000	10 - 20	10 – 35
Tertiary*	3 – 30	50,000 – 1,00,000	5 – 15	14 – 40

*Represents the number of girls under each Pimp usually known as Madam in Brothels, manager in Spa, Hotel, Resorts .

Compiled from the collected information

The primary pimp undertakes activities either individually or jointly depending upon the channel and sources available to him. The individual pimp carryon his business either through cheating the poor and illiterate families. Many cases has been reported where the girls were involved in the business through love affairs, false marriage, promise of providing job, greediness of high standard life, insolvency and contract with family. Even in some cases the family members sell the girl to pimps and to avoid legal inconvenience arrange false marriages. Further, the cases of kidnapping and missing of girls act as major source of supply. The primary pimps composed of an average of 5 – 12 members whose role and actions are clearly defined. Each group earn on an average of Rs. 10,000 – 50,000 per girl depending upon outlook, virginity, complexion and figure. Each primary pimps supplies on an average 2 – 6 girls per month with age varying between 12 – 35 years. Some girls especially above 28 years of age are captured by targeting their needs among which the major widow or women whose husbands left. In order to sustain both family and individual life they join the business. Each primary pimp group monthly on an average earns Rs. 20,000 – 3,00,000. Further, in case of exceptional situation such as natural and manmade disasters their income increases threefold. The same incident has been observed in Nepal after the massive earthquake as per the reports of UNICEF and local NGOs.

The secondary pimp includes the persons who carryon intermediary works. These people purchase the girls from primary pimps and makes necessary arrangement for further delivery. The secondary pimp hold strong backup both economically and politically. They carry on the activity of transferring girls among many cases with the help of local police support. Each secondary pimp group comprises of 5 – 20 members including female member and their primary role is to make arrangements for improving outlook, safe custody and preparing the girls for auction. Each secondary pimp group supply 5 – 20 girls monthly on an average and charges Rs. 25,000 – 1.00,000 for each girl. Each pimp group of this category earns monthly on an average of Rs. 1,25,000 – 20,00,000. These peoples do more cruelty than the primary pimps. Making classification, modification and suppression of girls are their main jobs. Many girls who don’t follow their instruction undergo physical, sexual and mental tortures. The average age of girls varies from 10 to 35 years of age. These wide variations in age of girls are due to the facts that these secondary pimps have wise channels and sources along with sound financial background. Further, their peoples are widely spread in villages and cities who keep keen eyes on socially excluded women, poor family daughters and holds regular contact with primary pimps.

The tertiary pimp acts all sorts of activities from mediatory till final stockist. These pimps are well trained in their business as they have also passed through similar stages. The tertiary pimps in case of brothels are madams who are either the owner or acts as manager of shops while in case of hotel, spa and massage centres its termed as manager. The environment and condition of the girls in case of hotels and massage centres are far superior to that of brothels. Even in terms of earning, standard of living, customer status, health condition, sanitation and security the prostitutes of high end brothels enjoys superiority over street brothels. The smaller tertiary pimps in case of street brothel keeps 3 – 5 girls while in case of large pimps the quantity varies from 5 – 20 girls. Similarly, in case of high end brothels each small pimp holds 5 – 10 girls and large pimp holds 10 – 30 girls. There exist several differences among the prostitutes of street brothels and high end brothels among which the major are age and varieties. The high end brothels hold girls of less age from different parts of the country and international girls in specified brothels as observed in Delhi and Mumbai. Further, they make exchanges of girls with other Hotels, spa and massage centres located in different states of country. Each tertiary pimp of road side brothel earns Rs. 50 – 300 each prostitute per day while in case of high end prostitutes the income per day per prostitute range between Rs. 1000 – 15,000. This not only provides high earning but also makes fresh stock availability for their customers. This reflects the full proof and strong supply chain management process from bottom to roof and one of the major reasons for flourishing of business in India.

SERVICES AND SUPPORT:

The business of prostitution is available in India in different form and with different varieties. Many studies show that as compared to the west countries the pattern and extension of suffering and brutality over prostitutes are low in India. Presently, the businesses of prostitution are available in several forms and classified on the basis of types of services. The marketing and operation of each form varies from another on several grounds. The pattern and extension of marketing is very interesting in brothels (Nair, 2005). They hold both full time as well as contractual marketing agents. There exist several male servants from bouncers till cleaner and are paid on the basis of their services. The average earning of the bouncers varies from 400 – 900 per day and they are associated with 5 – 7 brothel madams. The same pattern is followed by servants but their association is limited to 2 – 4 brothel madams and their earning varies from Rs. 150 - 450. The servants also serve the marketing agent and earn royalty, commission and sexual services. The bouncers on the other hand are kept to handle the problem creating customers and new prostitutes. Further, they serve as bodyguard and carryon the transferring activities during outside booking. Each prostitute contributes 10 – 30 paisa/ rupee of their earning to the agents, 20 – 40 paisa/rupee to madam towards debt fee, rent and maintenance of room, security and other charges. Further, these prostitutes entertain some permanent client’s especially local political leaders and dabang and render several physical, sexual and other services as per demand. These markets are present in central part of city or the crowded area in order to have easy accessibility to customers. While in case of high end prostitution the marketing is done through print media, agents and mobile and internets. Each prostitutes of this group does not pay anything directly to their incharge or manager. The manager fixes the rate according to customer needs and duration and the prostitutes are paid on salary basis or incentive basis. Further, these girls enjoy luxurious life style and makes domestic and foreign tours. On an average the girls under 25 years of age under this group earns Rs. 30,000 – 50000 per month entertaining only 1 – 5 customers per day. These high end brothels earns on an average Rs. 25,000 – 1,00,000 per day for organising, operating and managing the services. During the current phase with urbanisation the form of prostitution has also undergone drastic change with introducing escorts, call girls whose services are available on daily basis serving one 1 client per day and charging high amount of Rs. 5,000 – 40,000 per day. These escorts usually hire by businessman or delegates either for self enjoyment or satisfying business partners. The services of high end brothels are also available online through friends making and porn sites. Further in several hotels the menu cards are available specifying the details of each prostitute age, figure, photos and charges. Moreover, in case of shortage services of prostitutes from other hotels are availed. Their marketing strategies are quite impressive and strong keeping in view the law and order situation of the country. There exist huge differences between the prostitutes of street brothels and high end in terms of social, economic, political and health related issues as observed in table 2. Moreover, the extra benefits which the high end prostitutes gets can’t reached by the street level prostitutes. Many scholars and social scientist has advocated the legalisation of prostitution in order to make improvement and cover up the loopholes and leakages.

OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT:

The business of prostitution runs on customer satisfaction and which can be efficiently achieved only through proper operation and management of prostitutes due to limited availability. The operation and management system varies from street brothels to high end brothels on types and standard of customers, their preference, preventive measures and prostitutes mobility (Sithannan, 2013). The customers in this business are classified into two groups i.e. regular and occasional. The regular customers are those who comes regularly (daily, weekly, fortnight or monthly) including pimps and the business owners keeps them well satisfied as these people expands coverage of the business. The customers are divided into various groups depending upon the choices i.e. persons preferring same prostitute all the time and the person choosing different girls during every visit.

Table 2. Brothels Market: Structure, Demand and Benefit

Category	Marketing	Services	Customers Per Day (Each prostitute)	Additional Benefit
Street Brothels	Local Pimps and Agents	Sexual and physical	3 – 14	Nil
High end Brothels	Pimps, Agents, print Media, Internet and Mobile services.	Escorts, spa, massage parlour, bar, sexual, professional, physical, mediatory and recreation	1 - 5	Health, safety, good earning, low brokerage, good food, better life style, Tip, Jobs etc.

Compiled from the collected information

Table 3. Customer Management and Operation (In %)

Type of Brothel	Type of Customers	Standard of Customers*			Prefer same Girl	Outing with Customers	Use of preventive Measures
Type of Brothel	Type of Customers	High	Middle	Low	Prefer same Girl	Outing with Customers	Use of preventive Measures
Street	Regular	0	35	65	65	50	30
Street	Occasional	5	70	25	10	20	50
High End	Regular	60	40	0	70	80	65
High End	Occasional	55	42	3	25	60	90

Compiled from the collected information

It has been observed from the study that in case of street level prostitution the middle class customer who visits regularly to brothels are 35 percent whereas major share of regular customers is occupied by low class peoples including daily labour, transport sector workers, petty business owners and workers of various industries. Among the regular customers 65 percent prefer sex with same girl over the visits. This is due to the soft corner, attachment or love towards the same prostitute by the individual. The discussion with pimps revealed that only 50 percent of customers are allowed to take the girl/women for outing who are well known to the owner of brothels or the third party. Further, among the regular customers only 30 percent uses preventive measures before act. The use of preventive measures shows lower tendency due to the ignorance from both sides. Since the regular customers visits often as a result the bonding and relationship gets stronger and the use of preventive measures decline on customers part. Further, since the livelihood of prostitutes depends upon the customers therefore they accept the demands and act accordingly. In case of occasionally visiting customers 5 percent of the total belong to high standard, 70 percent of middle class category and 25 percent of low class category. The visit of high class peoples are lower in street brothels both occasionally and regularly as these people prefer educated, classy, good looking and experience prostitutes which are rarely find in street level brothels. Even the rich persons who visit occasionally are either due to some motives (individual or business) or good relationship with pimps, manager or owner. Only 10 percent of occasionally visiting customers prefer same girl and only 20 percent of them are allowed to take girls outside the brothel giving the security deposit and advance payment for the aforesaid time (Rs. 10,000 – 50,000). The uses of preventive measures are higher in case of occasionally visiting customers as compared to regular visitors.

The high end brothels observes regular visit of high class customers (60 percent) and followed by middle class (40 percent). Due to high charges and prices of services the low class peoples never make regular visit to these brothels. The 80 percent customers in these brothels prefer same girls due to their business or private motives. Even certain girls have been provided extra care with well furnished accommodation and section of business. These girls duty is make happier the business representatives, customers and partners of company. Among the regular customers 80 percent are allowed to take girls for outing and 65 percent uses preventive measures. Among the occasionally visiting customers 55 percent belong to high class category followed by middle class (42 percent) and low class (3 percent). In case of high end business the outing with occasionally visiting customers is quite high as compared to street level due to its autonomy in business operation. Further, 90 percent of them use preventive measures in performing act and 25 percent customers prefer same girl during their visit.

CONCLUSION:

The businesses of prostitution is all about enjoyment or taking advantage and benefits of someone obligations, compulsion and forlornly. It is successfully operating in India due to several social, economic, political and traditional factors and is prolonged and will continue further so long as the demand exists. The management of prostitution business is carried out through a three tier structure including a number of smaller and larger pimps at each level. Further, the methods and strategy of attracting customers, managing them with limited resources under law and order restriction makes sound impression over process of supply chain management. The prostitutes of high end brothels earn fivefold then the street brothel with an option of returning to normalcy life (due to hidden identity). This paper has highlighted several positive factors which show advance status of high end brothels over street brothels. Legalising the prostitution in India will not only highlight the status, pattern and growth of prostitute in different brothels but also through linkage effect and freedom will improve the quality life of prostitutes of street brothels through adoption of healthy life style. Further, this will make more convenient for researchers to carry on the good and in depth research without fear of legal actions and make significant contribution by executing policy to overcome the other major constraint of prostitutes.

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Received on 09.04.2017 Modified on 17.04.2017

Asian J. Management; 2017; 8(3):662-666.

DOI: 10.5958/2321-5763.2017.00105.6