Maharashtra Home Minister R. R. Patil on Saturday said owners of dance bars should ensure the rehabilitation of the 'bar girls' who would be rendered unemployed if the ban on such joints came into force in the state.

Speaking to newsmen at Warora in Chandrapur district of Vidarbha shortly after presenting the Maharashtra Bhushan award to noted social worker Baba Amte, Patil said dance bar owners had earned a lot of money through the bar girls.

It was, therefore, only appropriate that the owners take care of the girls in their difficult times, he said.

There were several schemes of the central and state governments meant for the uplift of women, Patil said. Bar owners should take advantage of these schemes in their effort to rehabilitate the girls, he also said.

Patil said the Congress would be taken into confidence before bringing the dance bar bill before the legislature during the monsoon session.

He would discuss the issue with Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh after he returned to Mumbai from abroad, he said.

Patil said that the scheme to tackle Naxalism in the state could not be implemented effectively because of lack of funds.