MISCELLANEOUS OCCUPATIONS

HAIR-CUTTING SALOONS

Hair-cutting saloons flourish mostly in the urban areas of the district. But in the rural areas and remote parts of the district, however, the barber continues to have an important place in the rural community.

In the village the barber with his tool-box (dhopti) moves from place to place to serve his customers. His dhopti generally consists of an old mirror, old type of razors and a clipping machine, a small cake of soap, a broken comb, some kind of talc powder, etc. They very rarely set-up even a semi-permanent establishment but perfer to sit under the shade of a tree or in the verandah of a house. Though it was formerly followed as an hereditary occupation, today due to the changes in the social outlook any person who has the initiative and aptitude to take up the occupation can do so.

In urban areas the saloons are well equipped with modern machines, big mirrors, etc., to satisfy the customers. They also prefer to employ skilled workers adept with modern styles to the traditional barbers aforesaid.

The following statement gives the number of persons employed in this occupation during Census years from 1921 to 1961.

Of the 1944 persons following this occupation in 1961, 605 i.e., about 31 per cent were in urban areas of the district.

These units required the following accessories viz., soap, powder, show, oil, etc., its cost varying from Rs. 3 to 10 per month according to the size of the unit.

The fixed capital of the units differed according to the capability of the proprietor and the size of the establishment depended upon the fixed capital invested. The tools and equipment of a big unit comprised 10 to 12 razors, 10 pairs of scissors, five to six brushes, eight tables and chairs, mirrors, etc., all costing about Rs. 2,000. On the other hand, the tools and equipment of a small unit consisted of two mirrors, one table, one chair, one or two pairs of scissors, one or two razors, etc., the whole lot costing about Rs. 250.

Mostly small saloons were one-man establishments. The other units were found to be working with the assistance of a few employees, either the relatives or the outside labourers.

Big and medium units employed one to three members from the family and one to seven outside labourers. A big unit was found to be paying Rs. 125 per month to each of its employees.

The net earnings of the surveyed units ranged between Rs. 80 and Rs. 300 per month. The saloons were generally located in rented premises, the rent varying from Rs. 20 to Rs. 50 per month depending upon the locality and the size of the premises.

The persons following this occupation have established their own association in the district to solve the problems and difficulties faced by them.

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