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MISCELLANEOUS OCCUPATIONS
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HAIR CUTTING
Barbers are to be found even in the remote parts of the district In the past they used to serve in religious functions too where their presence was obligatory. Nowadays these observances are fast disappearing.
Wherever possible a barber establishes a permanent shop or otherwise goes to the doors of his customers. In the past, this business was taken up by those who belonged to a particular community. In recent years, however, that social stigma, which was attached to it in the past, is not being observed strictly. Anyone, from any-community, can take up this occupation as a career if he has initiative, capital and aptitude to adopt this occupation. Small establishments are the common feature of urban areas. If is only in big cities that haircutting saloons, provided with fine furniture, electricity, fans, light, radios, etc., are run. In some cases they are also equipped with modern means such as revolving chairs, electric appliances, radio sets, mirrors and good toilet services. This is regarded as the best method to attract more customers. Naturally the cost of maintaining the establisment goes up.
According to the 1951 Census, the total number of barbers in the earst while South Satara district was 819, which also included the number of beauty shopkeepers. By 1961 the number of such persons in Sangli district was 1271.
Tools and Equipment.
The tools and equipment of a hair cutting saloon are a pair of scissors, cropping machines, razors, while an itinerant barber pulls on with a set of tools. A saloon is usually equipped with simple
chairs, tables and mirrors, most of which are out-of-date. It is only in big shops that revolving chairs, dressing tables, with mirrors on both sides, etc., arc provided for among other ameni- lies to the customers. The expenditure on tools and equipment of small, medium and big shops ranges from Rs. 200 to Rs. 300, Rs. 300 to Rs. 700 and from Rs. 700 to Rs. 1,000, respectively. But the investment of an itinerant barber comes to about Rs. 50. Where the occupation is a hereditary one, the tools are transferred from one person to another.
Income and Expenditure.
The itinerant barber works from dawn to dusk. His working hours are not uniform. On the other hand a saloon has fixed hours of work spread over partly in the morning and partly in the evening. The workers are paid either a fixed monthly salary or an agreed portion of the income of the establishment. The itinerant barber generally earns a rupee or two, depending upon the amount of work he gets during a day's time. The establishments, generally, are managed by the owners themselves either with the assistance of the family members or with the help of employed artisans, who may, usually, be his distant relatives.
No other operations are conducted such as wigmaking either at the established shops or by independent barbers. The survey showed that the daily gross income ranges from Rs. 3 to Rs. 4, from Rs. 5 to Rs. 8 and from Rs. 10 to Rs. 12 in case of small, medium and large establishments, respectively.
The rent and wages are the two most important items of expenditure which consume much of the income of the establishments The rent varies from Rs. 6 in case of a small establishment to Rs. 40 in case of a large establishment in the district. The other important item of expenditure is on cosmetics such as oil, soap, powder, snow, etc.
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