With CSWs operating from Balgandharva rickshaw stand to the Pune Municipal Corporation building, residents of the adjoining bungalows are in a fix. Similar complaints pour in from residents around Sadhu Vaswani Chowk and East Street. In all these areas which were predominantly residential areas, this disturbing trend continues.

The police have expressed their inability to do anything and the area has started attracting anti-social elements entertained by the CSWs, claim residents.

For the women in the area it has been a particularly difficult time. Says a resident living on the Corporation Road, ``We are hesitant to venture out after 7 p.m. Girls find it difficult to go out with friends with so many unpleasant characters lurking. Some even try to approach them whichis extremely disturbing.''

According to police inspector in-charge of Deccan Gymkhana police station, Ram Kondhalkar, the spillover is a logical extension of the city's growth. ``Budhwar Peth is saturated with CSWs. And they come from poor families. Unless they are rehabilitated the trend will continue.''

But then who does the rehabilitation. According to PSI Rekha Salunke manning the Shukrawar Peth Police chowki adjoining Budhawar Peth, ``There is very little work being done for their rehabilitation.''

Salunke should know having involved herself actively in the welfare of the CSWs. ``The NGOs are doing their best but the influx from Nepal, Andhra Pradesh, Mumbai and Karnataka adds to the population. How can any agency rehabilitate all of them?'' she points out. According to her, while there were around 1500 CSWs registered with them, today there are over 2500 CSWs.

``With so many around, they are bound to look for other areas which is logical,'' she says.

But this logic finds no takers in theresidents. Says D V Lonkar whose bungalow is right in front of the rickshaw stand. ``It is so embarrassing for us and the women residents. The soliciting starts at 7 pm and attracts a very unpleasant crowd,'' he claims.

A few months ago, the residents had started a signature campaign. It brought temporary results but went back to what it was. And so the story continues. Says Lonkar, ``I complained to the police inspector in-charge of Deccan Gymkhana police station before Kondhalkar. But nothing concrete happened. We had written to the then DCP too, but the police keep expressing their inability to take action.''

Ask the constables on duty at the Udyan police chowki right next to the Balgandhrava Rangmandir and they look helpless. ``The area across the road is beyond our jurisdiction,'' one constable points out. ``It comes under Shivajinagar police chowki. It is their duty.''

When the same problem is presented to the Shivajinagar police chowki they are equally helpless. ``Where is the manpower to patrolall the areas. We are already stretched to the limit,'' says a constable.

So the residents come back to the Udayan police chowki, since it is right next door. But other practical problems emerge. Says the constable on night duty, ``When we round them up, they are let off with meagre fines of Rs 50 and a warning. They are back on the road the next day. When we nab them again, they flout their receipts. We are left to shoulder the blame.'' Adds another constable, ``The amount we spend in trying to book them is more than the fine they pay.''

A feeling that Kondhalkar echoes. ``We pick them up and they are let off. But we must understand that this is more of a social problem than a law and order problem. No lady takes to the profession by choice. It is circumstances that force her into commercial sex. What can we do?'' he asks.

So, till a solution comes up, society will have to increase its level of the age-old tacit understanding.