Maliwal holds meeting with agencies to raze hidden cells in GB Road

On the issue of razing the hidden cells (tehkhanas) in the brothels of GB Road, the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) Chief Swati Maliwal on Tuesday convened a meeting with senior officials in GB Road itself.

The senior officials included representatives from Delhi Police, North MCD, Delhi Fire Department, Delhi Jal Board, District Magistrate and prominent NGOs working at GB Road.

The DCW Chief has raised the point of mentioning hidden cells as illegal structures which are used to hide minor girls trafficked to GB Road from various parts of the country.

Even as various notices have been sent to North MCD over the demolition of the hidden cells, Maliwal claimed that there had been no progress as of now in the demolition of these structures.

To avoid further delay, the DCW on Tuesday conducted a survey and organised a meeting with the senior officials. The Chairperson and other members of DCW along with the SDM Karol Bagh, SHO, Kamla Market and various other senior officials visited a large number of brothels and found the hidden cells being operational in the brothels.

During the meeting, the representatives from North MCD said that they would prepare a detailed survey report within two months.

The MCD officials also informed that till date only external surveys were conducted by it but this time they will be conducting the survey inside the brothels.

“It has been observed many times when raids are conducted that more than 15-20 girls are hidden in the cells of size less than 6 feet by 2 feet for several hours,” said DCW Chief Swati Maliwal.

“GB road is existing at three km from Parliament yet we see a deplorable situation where a women is made to sleep with more than 30 men a day. Minors are trafficked to forcefully be a part of this living hell. DCW will not stop till the time prostitution ends in Delhi and these victims of commercial sexual exploitation are rehabilitated,” Maliwal added. 

It is to be noted that the DCW has been actively advocating for framing of a policy for rehabilitation of these victims of trafficking at GB Road.

“GB Road is 3 km away from Parliament. Each woman is made to sleep with more than 30 men in a day. Minors are being trafficked from various parts of the country to this living hell.