Mundargi acts against untouchability, opens ‘Souharda Salon’

Administration Steps In After Barbers Refuse Services To Dalits Despite NoticesGadag: Repeated instances of Dalits being denied hair-cutting services in rural North Karnataka prompted the Mundargi taluk administration to set up a ‘Souharda Salon' in Singatalur as part of an untouchability-eradication drive.Nanda Hanabaratti, deputy director, social welfare department (SWD), Gadag, told TOI that the salon was established with the taluk administration, taluk panchayat, social welfare and police departments, and the Sri Shivasharana Hadapad Appanna community. "It is aimed at spreading a social equality message among all communities," she said.Mundargi tahsildar PS Yerriswamy said denying haircuts and access to hotels and temples to Dalits is illegal. "If found to be happening, we will take stringent action as per laws," he said.Uday Kumar Yeliwal, assistant director, SWD, said barbers had refused services to Dalits. "We held meetings with barbers, Dalits and other communities. We even issued notices and ordered shops to shut. Despite this, the issue continued. We took it up with the tahsildar, taluk panchayat executive officer and Hadapad community office-bearers. We approached Devu Hadapad, who convinced his cousins to set up a salon for all," he said.Highly placed district administration sources said barbers were indirectly threatened by upper-caste groups. "They never came to the front but refused services from the barber serving Dalits. This indirect threat or blackmail forced barbers to deny their services," they said.Devu Hadapad, state president, Akhil Karnataka Sri Shivasharana Hadapad Appanna Samaj Seva Sangh, Bengaluru, said the community is committed to serving all. "Dalits were denied services in Singatalur for decades. Irked by indirect pressure from upper castes, village barbers were considering quitting the family profession. Now the harmonious salon is functioning with support from all communities," he said.Krishna Hadapad of Gadag District Savita Samaj called the Singatalur initiative the first of its kind in the state. He said, "Govt should consider barbers honorary employees and support them with subsidies, loans and other facilities. Only then can we play a crucial role in maintaining social equality, especially in rural areas."