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Wednesday, May 04, 2005

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National

Bar dancers take to the streets

Staff Reporter

"We are not educated, where will we get jobs? If they close the dance bars then how will we take care of our families?" `It is unconstitutional to close the bars; what about rehabilitation'?

MUMBAI: Thousands of bar dancers came out on the streets of Mumbai again on Tuesday. Led by the Bharatiya Bar Girls' Association, the women demanded that the government resolution seeking the closure of all dance bars for another three months be postponed.

The association expressed the fear that trafficking in women would increase if the bars were closed. It raised the issue of rehabilitation and said it was unconstitutional to close the bars.

Association president Varsha Kale said: "Unless the issue of rehabilitation is dealt with, we will continue to protest. These girls are between 21 and 30 years. Some are even 40. They are all supporting their families. If the bars close down, they will be forced to become commercial sex workers."

Amid slogans of "Bar bala, veer bala," some of the bar dancers spoke to the assembled crowd. Nisha, who works at Golden Palace Hotel, said.

"We are working hard to earn our living. We are not dependent on anyone. There are so many politicians and policemen who come to the dance bars and ask us to dance. We are not educated, where will we get jobs? If they close the dance bars, how will we take care of our families?"

`Owners will also suffer'

The Fight for Rights Bar Owners Association joined the demonstration demanding that the Government take a decision after consulting everyone concerned. Pravin Kumar Agrawal, vice-president, said, "The owners have invested huge amounts in the dance bars. If they are closed down even the owners and other staff will be affected."

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