PANAJI
Goa Salon Owners Group has petitioned Chief Minister Pramod Sawant requesting permission to reopen salons and barbershops with precaution and standard operating procedures.
These shops are closed since April 29, 2021, due to restrictions to prevent Covid spread. Now the government has partially relaxed the restrictions and allowed most businesses and shops with time restrictions. However, the saloon and barbershops are closed along with spas and massage parlours and gyms. It may be noted that many other states have allowed barbershops to operate.
In the letter submitted on Tuesday to the CM, the Salon Owner groups have put a point that hair and beauty services are essential grooming services that are required by almost every person, unlike spa and massage services.
"We, therefore, request that salon services be looked at as a separate essential category," said the petition.
The salon owners have said that if managed properly, a salon environment is a safe, low-density environment, where services can be provided on a one-on-one basis, with adequate and simple precautions such as sanitisation, restricted occupancy and appointment-based service.
The saloon owners have said that they have amply demonstrated for over a year, in which no outbreaks have been traced to salons, in contrast to many other spaces.
They added that due to one year and a half long experience with Covid-19, they already have several precautions and standard operating procedures in place, and will continue to adhere to them.
The saloon owners have argued that the business provides essential services to the local population, and also employs thousands of locals and migrants who are solely dependent on our businesses for their livelihood.
