A sensitive project by social worker Vijaya Lavate, that completes a year soon, has taken these children in the zero-to-five age group away from the shady bylanes of Budhwar Peth and the deplorable haggling over the price of their mother's body. Instead, it has exposed them to the natural childhood joys of regular meals, toys and games and a relaxed nap in a warm lap.

On the lines of ``Neehar'' a hostel-cum-school on the outskirts of the city Lavate helped start some years back for grown up children of commercial sex workers, the new project is aimed at newborn babies and younger children of prostitutes who have agreed to go in for tubectomies.

``Eight women have given their children to me and I have taken complete responsibility of educating them and then placing them in some respectable employment,'' says Lavate. The mothers are allowed to visit their children twice a month but they are not allowed to take the children home at any time. Two workers - Gaura and Aruna - the former herself a sex worker till 25 years back, help Lavate change diapers and cook for the babies while the responsibility of informal education has fallen on Lavate herself and Dr Arundhati Sardesai, the wife of a retired Air Force officer.

``Our aim is to bring up the children with hatred for the profession but understanding for their mothers who have been forced by circumstances to sell their bodies,'' says Lavate, who sees it as the ultimate means of abolishing prostitution. ``When these children are 25, I hope to see them take their old mothers away from the red light area and look after them,'' she says. For that reason the children are being brought up with concern for their mothers and sympathy for the profession they have been forced into.

While the project is also aimed at preserving childhood, it is ironical that kids who have spent the first few years of their life in red light areas emerge unnaturally adult in their thinking. Four-year-old Shankar is generally reserved and quiet but in an uncharacteristic moment of verbalisation he talks about his mother's work pressure that drives her to the bottle and the numerous thrashings he has received from her after a drinking session. The children are known to play sex simulation games and use foul language when they are particularly upset.

``It has been their way of life before they came here and though we never ask them any questions about it if they talk about their past life we listen,'' says Lavate.

Project costs are difficult to meet and so far funds are being colleted from the society. But for the work to expand, more funds are required for which donations would be welcome. ``We would also welcome individuals who can come forward to sponsor a picnic or a movie for the children,'' says Lavate.

After the children complete five years they will be sent to `Snehalaya' a residential school being run in Nagar where 45 children are already residing.