Local residents, led by their Shiv Sena corporator, Ram Repale, insisted that at
least 100 girls cleared the residential area along with their families and
belongings. The residents complained of visits made by 'anti-social elements'
and 'pimps' were a regular phenomena in the area. The residents claimed to have
told the bar girls to leave the area by June 1. Other complaints included that
of disturbance at night because of late hours at work and how their living in
the same neighbourhood was tarnishing family values.
Family values ?another debatable phrase. What use is imparting a value that
does not teach the members of the family to respect the women of their family
and ones outside their family?
One girl has been arrested from the area for 'indecent behaviour'. The girls no
more work for dance bars as they have been shut down. Many of them have moved
into alternate jobs while some have got involved in the flesh trade. But
unfortunately for the bar girls, the tag refuses to leave them irrespective of
the job they have chosen.
The girls had been thrown out forcibly and violently. The landlords have
refused to pay back their deposit. The landlords have started looking for new
tenets to replace them. "The girls cannot be completely blamed for this. They
have lost their means of earning and we are doing our best to keep them away
from turning to prostitution," said Varsha Kale, Founder and Honourary
President of Bar Girls Union. The union is doing their best to rehabilitate
them, educate them and send some back to college to complete their education.
The case for the reopening of dance bars is still with the Supreme Court.
The Shiv Sena is actively involved with the eviction process of the bar girls.
"The sainiks should not use violence. They are rightly fighting against
immigrants and others involved in prostitution," said Kale.
The union agrees that the landlords should have checked the background of the
girls before giving them houses on rent or allowing them to buy houses in the
area. The union also opposes the idea of agents entering residential areas.
"People should stay away from moral policing. We are doing our best to aid the
bar girls. As practice, we have never sided with prostitutes or bar girls who
turned towards prostitution," said Kale.
The incident has not gone down well for members of various women's groups. "It
is unjust. Commercial sex workers are allowed to live in peace as compared to
the bar girls," said Flavia Agnes, activist with Majlis. The organisation is
fighting to get the ban on bar dancing lifted in the Supreme Court. "We cannot
take up the issue on our own. The Union has to approach us for help," said
Agnes, a veteran in Women's Rights.
