Hair salons in Maha to reopen June 28, gyms to open soon

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has decided to reopen gyms and salons in the state in a week's time, cabinet minister Aslam Shaikh said on Thursday. The government will issue a list of the guidelines to be followed to control spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic in the gyms and salons within next two days, he said. State relief and rehabilitation minister Vijay Wadettiwar said that CM Uddhav Thackeray agreed to allow the salons to reopen with adherence to standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Maharashtra has decided to reopen gyms and salons in the state in a week's time, cabinet minister Aslam Shaikh said on Thursday. The government will issue a list of the guidelines to be followed to control spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic in the gyms and salons within next two days, he said.

According to sources, the hardships faced by the barbers were discussed in the cabinet meeting held on Thursday. Some of the ministers said that there is a public perception that the government did not help the barbers during the last three months.

As per the government's own estimate, there are 15 lakh barbers' shops in Maharashtra that have remained closed for more than three months now. Of these, more than two lakh shops of hair cutting salons and beauty parlours are in Mumbai alone. Around 60 lakh people are directly employed in the Salon and beauty parlours.

Speaking with the reporters, Mr. Shaikh said, “I and Aditya Thackeray, guardian ministers of Mumbai city and suburbs respectively, have taken initiative for people earning livelihood from gymnasiums and salons.”

“The salons and gyms would be restarted in a week's time. SOPs are being prepared for operation of Salons and Gyms in Mumbai in next two days," the minister said.