Listing last updated: January 10, 2006

• Barred minds and bar girls — Indian Express, July 4, 2005
• Bhartiya Bargirls Union Appeal — New Delhi, April 15, 2005
• Letter to S. M. Krishna, The Governor, Maharashtra — April 15, 2005
• Letter to Girija Vyass, Chairperson, National Commission For Women — New Delhi, April 15, 2005
• Bhartiya Bargirls Union Formed — India, August 20, 2004

New Delhi, April 15, 2005

The National Human Rights Commission received a petition from Bhartiya Bargirls Union alleging that the Maharashtra Government's decision to close dance bars in the State is going to deprive 75,000 bar girls of their source of livelihood. It further alleged that the Government has taken a unilateral and sudden decision without taking the responsibility of their rehabilitation on the ground that most of them have come from other states and not from Maharashtra. The petition has expressed apprehension that depriving these bargirls of their source of livelihood without proper rehabilitation is going to force them into prostitution.

The Commission took cognizance of the complaint on April 12, 2005 and has transmitted it to the Chief Secretary, Government of Maharashtra for comments within four weeks.