Shillong, Apr 24: The Voice of the People’s Party (VPP) women’s wing today said that online advertisements are increasingly facilitating prostitution in Meghalaya.
In a statement issued on Friday, the woman’s wing said reports of such content on various platforms have caused serious apprehension regarding the safety, dignity and welfare of women and girls in the state.
This comes on the back of VPP supremo Ardent M Basaiawmoit’s recent warning that Meghalaya and Shillong in particular could turn into hubs of prostitution. Basaiawmoit had taken aim at the proposed Taj Resort and Spa at Umiam as he seemed to associate all spas with sex work. Basaiawmoit has received criticism for his comments, with Congress Party leader Vincent Pala saying that the VPP chief had sullied Shillong’s reputation as a whole just because of a few bad apples.
Today, the VPP women’s wing gave examples of online pages and advertisements that it said appear to promote immoral and illegal activities under the guise of escort or related services.
“Such blatant promotions undermine women’s dignity and safety, signaling a flourishing prostitution business in our state,” the statement said.
It further claimed that the active registration of girls and women on these sites is alarming, adding that such escorts often cater to clients in five-star hotels.
The VPP woman’s wing said this raises questions about enforcement and regulation, and whether appropriate monitoring mechanisms are in place to prevent the misuse of digital platforms. It also flagged concerns about the potential branding of Shillong as a “sex city.”
The VPP State Women’s Wing sought clarification on whether the Women’s Commission is aware of such online advertisements and what steps have been taken so far to address the issue.
It also asked if any assessment or data has been compiled on the number of women and girls reportedly involved or registered on such platforms.
The women’s organisation of the VPP demanded that the Women’s Commission immediately coordinate with law enforcement agencies and relevant digital platforms to identify, monitor and remove such online content.
