Small-time barbers, salon owners in a fix

Deepankar Sharda

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 2

A day after the UT Administration issued standard operating procedures (SOPs) for salons, small-time barbers are expecting troubled times ahead as they go back to work.

Yesterday, the UT Administration had issued SOPs, which included availability of thermal temperature measuring equipment, hand sanitisers, separate disposable towels or washing towels after every use, sanitising equipment, online mode of payment among others.

However, according to these small-time barbers, such facilities would add to their service cost, which could affect their business.

“We are staring at difficult times ahead. For instance, an authentic thermal temperature screening gun costs around Rs2,700. The cost of sanitisers, disposable masks, towels, etc., is additional. Even if we wash towels after every use, we will need buckets of water for it. We don’t have water storage facility. We charge Rs80, Rs100 or a maximum of Rs120 for a haircut,” said Warris, a barber at the Bijwada Vegetable Market in Sector 22-D.

This complex has several small-time salons, which cater to mostly students staying in paying guest accommodations and labourers working in the complex or the nearby areas.

“There are no students nowadays. The number of workers in the markets is also less. If we talk about meeting expenses, we have to pay rent, electricity bills and give salaries to helpers. We are earning nothing,” said Manoj, another small-time barber.

The story at the Sector 37 booth market and the Sector 15 Azad market is no different. A large number of lower-middle class people visit these markets.

“It is important to follow SOPs, but it will add to our service cost, which customers will not be able to pay. Big salons, where a hair cut costs a minimum of Rs250 and other services are been offered at higher prices, can afford all these facilities. We will end up following these SOPs for a week as we have a limited footfall of customers,” said Sunny, who runs a booth in Sector 37.

Sunny’s brother Sonu, who is also in the same business, said: “Our shops were shut since March 23. Now, we don’t see any hope of getting a good income. There is a tough competition in our business. If we increase the service cost, it will directly hit our business.”