Karnataka govt opens salon after Dalits denied haircuts

In a move to combat caste discrimination, the Karnataka government has opened a salon in Shingatalur village to ensure Dalits have equal access to haircutting services after facing denial from upper-caste residents.

The Karnataka government has facilitated the opening of a salon at Shingatalur village in Gadag district after Dalits were allegedly denied hair-cutting services by upper-caste residents, sources in the Social Welfare Department said.

According to department sources, Dalits in the village had been facing denial of tonsure services for several years during a particular time of the year, forcing them to travel to neighbouring villages for haircuts.

Following representations from Dalit residents, the authorities intervened to address the issue.

The barber shop has been set up jointly by the Social Welfare Department, the Taluk administration, the Taluk panchayat, a body of Dalit organisations and the Shivasharana Hadapada Appanna community.

Basavaraj Hadapada from neighbouring Tippapur village has been allotted the shop to provide barber services in Shingatalur, the sources said.

"The initiative has been taken under the untouchability eradication awareness and harmonious living programme to promote social harmony and ensure equal access to basic services," sources in the department said.

Discrimination guided by superstition 

A belief reportedly prevailed in the village that Veerabhadreshwara Swamy visits the houses of the Hadapada community members during Mahanavami every year, and that cutting the hair of Dalits at that time would bring misfortune.

"Citing this superstition, some individuals stopped offering services to Dalits," sources said.

Following petitions submitted by the affected residents, officials stepped in and ensured that a permanent solution was put in place.

The barber shop was formally opened in the presence of officials and villagers, sources in the Social Welfare Department said.