Stories about children’s days
Rekha, 17 year old girl
About Rekha’s life
When she first got her job, she was offered NPR 30,000 (US $226) as an advance. This was because the “aunt” had worked as an intermediary, finding girls under the age of 18 and she took a commission from the owner. Rekha then initially worked on a salary basis. She had to do what the customers demanded. She was forced to sit and drink with them, and to entertain them. Rekha had to tolerate lots of bad behaviour from the customers. If they touched Rekha sexually, she had no option other than to let them do what they liked. Now however, Rekha works as a broker to link customers with sex workers. She takes a commission from this, and she feels she has more power to choose which customers she will engage with.
Receiving money from a customer
Yesterday, I was completely drunk. I drank so much wine that I couldn’t stand up. I was taken home by the staff vehicle; the driver carried me to my room because I was completely out of it.
An alcoholic drink
Rekha’s shift at the dance bar is usually from 7pm to 2am. Her role is to dance and to bring customers into the dance bar, and then to make them spend as much money as possible.
To do this, Rekha needs to be in close contact with the customers, she needs to flirt with them in order to encourage them to order as much food and drink as possible. Rekha drinks alcohol and eats with the customers to increase their spend and she can make her customers spend between NPR 50,000 (US $377) to NPR 60,000 (US $453) in one evening. This earns her commission.
“To get my salary I had to go with any customer who choose me to be with me while I was working”
Two full glasses of wine in the dance bar
The entrance to the hospital
Rekha has health issues.
She often gets stomach pain and the day she recorded her daily activities, 8 August 2022, she had to go to hospital for a health check-up. She had been having extreme stomach pain in the preceding days but still went to work (although she did not directly invite any customers to come to the dance bar, and only danced on this night).
Rehka in her workplace
I am feeling really tired and sleepy. I can’t wait to go home, as early as possible, to sleep. I am feeling really unwell”
Rekha’s day
Rekha’s experience
I have not eaten well since yesterday. Now I am having lunch, and it is really very tasty. I did not call any customers yesterday as I was feeling unwell. I want to call customers so that I can earn something extra to run my daily life. But still, I don’t call any of them today.
Researcher’s experience
Rekha did not want us to know about where she lives. This might be because Rekha has not revealed her job to her family members or because she did not want researchers to be seen around her place. We meet her in a neutral place.
Rekha’s experience
I have come to a natural area of the city, where people come to meditate, because I am feeling restless and one of my friends told me you can find peace in this place.
Researcher’s experience
Rekha travels alone to the gardens, trying to get some peace from her restlessness and pain. She seems lonely.
Rekha waiting for treatment in hospital
Rekha’s experience
I have a really bad stomach-ache and I feel like I am also having problems breathing. I am thinking about one of my friends once saying that you need to vomit after drinking. That friend is in India at present. She works in a club there.
Researcher’s experience
Rekha goes to the hospital alone. She doesn’t have anyone to accompany her. Even though she is unwell, she doesn’t rest, instead, she goes to work.
Rekha’s experience
I am waiting for a bus. It’s raining and it’s already looking like I will be late for work. Yesterday, I made NPR. 30,000 (US $226). I earned this from customers whom I had personally invited to the dance bar. I was completely drunk. Today my stomach is hurting like hell.
Researcher’s experience
She is late for work so she is travelling by bus.
Dance bar interior
Rekha’s experience
I used to work on a salary basis, but now I am working on a commission, and this is better for me. Before I had to tolerate unwanted touching from customers but now this does not happen. I have not called any customers today as I am unwell. I can’t eat anything. I’ve got diarrhoea.
Researcher’s experience
The owner of the dance bar doesn’t allow Rekha to come out of the venue once she has gone in, but she says she will come out to talk to us outside when she can and will say to the owner that she needs to speak with her sister. She has a customer and leaves our company. Rekha had told us she doesn’t drink beer, but she is having a beer with this customer. She is accompanied by a sex worker from the dance bar. Later she is flirting with customers and making one of them taste wine. Rekha hides her pain and keeps a smile on her face. She knows how to handle people despite her very young age. She has a good rapport with the customers, and it seems like the dance bar is reliant on her skills in dealing with them.
Rekha’s experience
Today, there are not many staff to drop off and I get home earlier than usual, at 1.45am. Usually it’s more like 3am
Researcher’s experience
There is a system to drive staff to their homes. We learn that when Rekha is very drunk, she passes out and when this happens a colleague from the dance bar accompanies the driver and helps to carry Rekha to her room.
Explore Rekha’s journey
Arpita, 16, works in a massage and spa venue.
Sushma, 17, works ten hours a day at a massage and spa venue.
Rinku, 15, has worked in a dance bar since she was 12.
Mona, 17, works in a dance bar from the early afternoon into the night. She has worked there since she was 12.