The Cantonment Act of 1864 was a British colonial law in India that officially regulated and structured prostitution inside military bases to prevent venereal diseases among British soldiers. [1]
Historical Background and Implementation
- Official Recognition: Passed during the British Raj, the act treated prostitution as a "necessary evil" required to maintain the health and morale of the troops. [2]
- The "Chaklas": The military administration set up specialized brothels known as chaklas inside or near cantonment boundaries. [1]
- Quotas and Licensing: Officials maintained a ratio of roughly 12 to 15 Indian women for every regiment of about 1,000 soldiers. These women were officially licensed by military authorities and restricted to consorting exclusively with soldiers. [1]
- Health Inspections: The system was paired with compulsory medical and health checks enforced through subsequent regulations like the Indian Contagious Diseases Act of 1868 to control the spread of infections. [3]
Later Legal Changes
- Repeal and Reform: Public outrage and political movements in Britain and India eventually led to strong opposition against state-regulated vice. [4]
- Modern Cantonments Acts: Later legislation, such as the Cantonments Act, 1924, shifted away from state-sanctioned military brothels and instead granted station commanders and boards the power to remove brothels, penalize loitering, and prohibit solicitation for prostitution within cantonment limits. [5]
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