The local authority has
no control over the
saloons running in the city like the milkmen and that can be seen in case of the dirty tools that is being used for haircut, shaving, trimming etc. by the barbers of these saloons.
There are many customers who have responded that most saloons in the city are not clean as dirty combs, cream infested razors and in many cases even blades are used twice on different customers without their knowledge.
Ironically most saloons are ignorant about the use of disinfectants for cleansing combs, razors, trimmers, scissors etc. and none of them are not even aware of a spirit lamp that is used to sterilize tools before a barber actually starts his work. Strangely, when asked, most customers seemed to be unaware about the use of disinfectants and spirit lamp in saloons.
Uday Shankar Singh, a University student said that he often goes to the saloon but never knew about such things but ensured that the barber cleansed the blade holder, combs and put a new blade before starting his work. “By and large they use normal water to clean the tools but to be very honest I have experienced severe itching twice after going to these saloons,” he said. A manager of a courier company Jai Chand Sharma said that he avoids shaving in the saloon except for a haircut. “I have severe swelling on my cheeks with fluid clotting and had to see a skin specialist before things turned normal. It is unsafe to shave in the saloons barring few who adopt strict cleanliness,” he said.
Lamber Nongrang, a business development executive too had a narrow escape following a scalp infection after visiting a saloon. “I would rather blame this to my naivety since if a customer is conscious than saloons will automatically ensure safety measures in place,” he said.
Though it is learnt from these saloons that there are no guidelines in place in terms of use of disinfectants, sterilizations and disposal of saloon wastes from the state authority to keep the tools infection free, however, time is ripe that the State government wakes up immediately from its slumber before there is an outbreak of AIDS and other infectious diseases resulting out of the use of such unhygienic tools.
Mrinal Krori, a managerial level staff of a union government department said that there are few good saloons in the city who ensure cleanliness, use disinfectants before and after the work and some of them are even contemplating to procure spirit lamps to sterilize instruments.
“I know three such saloons – one in Laitumkhrah and two in Police Bazar – which have adopted the best practices possible. And remember they are doing this at the backdrop of a state government here which is numb on such issues,” he said.
Steps to curtail the outbreak of diseases have to start from the little known possible areas and this happens to be one such domain that needs proper monitoring. (By Rajib Roy)
