Rush in B’luru barber shops after 57-day lockdown
BENGALURU: Hundreds of people are flocking to the nearest barber shop in their neighbourhood for a quick hair cut or a shave after waiting 57 days when an extended lockdown kept them away.
Though the Karnataka government on May 18 allowed barbers across the State to reopen shops/salons from Tuesday, most of them could not as it was a weekly off for their employees and they were busy sprucing up their precincts for customers. “The rush of customers was so much on the first day of reopening the shop on early Wednesday, we sent away many of them and told others to try their luck in another salon rather than waiting for their turn here,” seasoned barber Siddappa said.
Restricting the fourth lockdown since May 18 to May 31 to only Sundays, the State government allowed barbers to reopen shops but with riders that have upset many of them, as they are not used to so many dos and don’ts. “As part of our business, we keep our premises clean and hygienic, as no customer will step into our shop if it’s dirty or messy. But to comply with so many guidelines is difficult as they add to our costs at a time when we have suffered a huge loss due to closure for nearly two months for the first time in life,” lamented the 48-year-old Siddappa.
As per the standard operating procedures (SOP), customers with fever, cold, cough and throat pain should not be allowed to enter the shop, says one guideline. The barbers and their staff welcomed customers wearing a mask, keeping sanitisers at the shop entrance for customers to wash their hands before and after a haircut or shave though it added to their operational cost.
“As we are desperate to revive business, we have no choice but to follow the rules rather than face the wrath of health inspectors,” said Manjunath, another barber in city’s eastern suburb.
To comply with the advisory, the barbers have bought additional masks, head covers and aprons to wear when serving their customers.
On government giving Rs 5,000 to each licensed barber as compensation, Manjunath said he was yet to get the amount credited to his bank account though he applied for it online.