Mumbai bar girls make a beeline for Goa

Around 600 dance bar girls are making a living in Goa following closure of bars in Maharashtra last year, said Varsha Kale, honorary president of Bhartiya Bar Girls Union (BBGU), even as Goa police denied their presence.

Following Maharashtra government's ban on dance bars last year, Goa witnessed a heavy influx of bar girls, said Kale.

"By our estimates there are around 600 dance bar girls in Goa. But there could be more," Kale added.

"Many work at various discos while at times customers pick them up as escorts since entry for couples is free in many discotheques in Goa," she said, adding that "They were also operating from pick-up points in the coastal belt".

Several girls are also working as part-time prostitutes, Kale said, adding "They never wanted to go into prostitution but circumstances have forced them to act against their wishes".

Taking a cue from dance bars, a few hotels dotting the coastal belt have introduced 'floor show' employing the bar girls.

These girls were also performing for some private parties, she stated. Goa police, however, ruled out presence of dance bar girls in the state.

"We have not received any complaint in this regard. Police had noted their activities during initial stage and they were sent back home. Now their activities have stopped," said D K Sawant superintendent of police, north Goa.

It is very difficult to identify the dance bar girls until there is any specific complaint against them, he said. However, Kale said that these girls are looking to head back to Mumbai and Bangalore once the bars reopen on a permanent basis.