Kolhapur youth becomes a ‘home barber’ for disabled

KOLHAPUR: One

youth

from Kolhapur has been offering free haircuts and barber services to people with disabilities. Even during the strict lockdown, he would take his cycle and got to people’s home to offer his service free of charge.

Vijay Shinde, 26, who works as a security guard at a bank, said he started the

initiative last year

and didn’t let the lockdown become a roadblock.

Shinde, after completing his duty at the bank, would earlier work at a salon during the day. Around one-and-a-half years ago, he started offering free barber services to the disabled. Over a short span of time, he became the regular barber for almost 60 individuals.

After the lockdown was imposed, the restrictions on movement even within

Kolhapur city

were proving to be a hindrance. Since the policemen were largely stopping bikers, he decided to ride his cycle to the residences of his ‘clients’.

“During the lockdown period, police used to stop if found using bikes. So, I travelled across the city on my bicycle. Now, I have purchased battery operated e-bike to carry out my service. Risk is everywhere and you can’t assure about anything in such virus condition. Staying safe and taking all the precautions while carrying out the work is what we should do. If it has to happen then it will happen anyhow,” he said.

He said that he could carry on with his service only because of the support of his family. “People used to laugh at me but my parents supported my initiative,” he said.

He said that he has almost 60 clients, whom he visits every fifteen days. “I keep their record and if anybody new wants to register, then I take their Aadhaar card and their medical certificate for my record,” he said.


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