 |
MISCELLANEOUS OCCUPATIONS
|
 |
HAIR-CUTTING SALOONS.
The 1961 Census shows that 2,142 persons were engaged in hairdressing shops and beauty shops. Services of the barber like those of a tailor are indispensable to the society. Though looked down upon formerly, today there is no stigma attached to the profession and any person can own a barber's shop. In the past the barbers in rural areas were balutedars and were paid in kind for the services they rendered. The system of baluta is now on the decline and now it exists in very few remote villages. The barber is now paid for the services rendered either in cash or in the form of deferred payment.
The tools and equipment of itinerant barber comprise razors which are generally used for a pretty long time, cropping machines, leather container, called a dhopti, a cup or a small aluminium pot, etc. The cost of the whole set does not exceed Rs. 100 and is generally passed on from generation to generation
In urban areas, many of the barbers have found employment in hair-cutting saloons, either established by themselves or by their better off colleagues.
The capital investment of a hair-cutting saloon is locked up in chairs, tables, mirrors and other necessary equipment, such as, razors, cropping machines, pairs of scissors, combs, etc., and benches for the customers in waiting.
In the case of medium establishments the expenditure on accessories ranges between Rs. 30 and Rs. 50, which in the case of small units comes to Rs. 10 and Rs. 30. Generally every shop has two sets of equipment. In the case of big units more sets of equipment are found. The medium establishments provide employment to about two to three persons, whereas small units are a single worker units. Only one unit employed three paid workers who were paid about Rs. 100 per month.
The daily earnings of a barber depend upon the skill that he possesses and the clientele that he serves. The earnings in the case of a medium unit were placed between Rs. 250 and Rs. 300 per month, and between Rs. 150 and Rs. 250 in case of small establishments. A barber moving from place to place was found to earn about Rs, 100 per month.
|
