In Bombay, children as young as 9 are bought for up to 60,000 rupees, or US$2,000, at auctions where foreigners bid against Indian men who believe sleeping with a virgin cures gonorrhea and syphilis. Child prostitution is more common here in India than any where else in the world. India has more than 1.3 million children in its sex-trade centers. The children come from relatively poorer areas and are trafficked to relatively richer ones. Karnataka, Andha Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu in India are considered "high supply zones" for women in prostitution. Bijapur, Belgaum and Kolhapur are common districts from which women migrate to the big cities, as part of an organised trafficking network. In India, 26 women, 27 girls, 71 boys and 13 children of unknown gender are held in Lilua Shelter, Calcutta; Sheha Shelter, Calcutta; Anando Ashram, Calcutta; Alipur Children's Home, Delhi; Nirmal Chaya Children's Home, Delhi; Prayas Observation House for Boys; Delhi; Tihar Jail, Delhi; Udavam Kalanger, Bangalore; Umar Khadi, Bangaore; Kishalay, West Bengal; Kuehbihar, West Bengal and Baharampur, West Bengal.
