Tral Municipal Committee shoots rate list to barbers :The order is bizarre, say locals

When people have been complaining about uncontrolled price rise in essential commodities, the municipal committee of Tral in district Pulwama issued a bizarre order to control the hair cutting charges. The barbers have been directed to follow the rate card issued by the committee.

“For stabilization of these rates some barbers were called upon and discussed the issue. After threadbare discussions negotiations were made,” reads the order and informs to pay the charges as per the negotiated rates mentioned in the order.

The order is stunning as several people describing the order as ridiculous, unrealistic and irrelevant. “It makes no sense when the prices of essential commodities are skyrocketing. No one bothers to put a check on price escalation,” said a group of people while talking to the Arising state correspondent.

“The municipality committee should have paid attention to larger issues rather than focus on issues that are not a priority in nature. The polyethylene use is rampant, lanes and by-lanes, even main roads are dirty and in dilapidated condition. The drainage system exists nowhere. Government land is illegally occupied. Construction work goes on illegally. Footpaths stand occupied by vendors,” said a group of respectable citizens of the town

“Actually, these are the basic municipal issues that need to be addressed on a priority basis,” they said. Yet another local citizen called issuing a price list of hair cutting as nothing but a Tagalug type order.

While commenting on the order, a medical doctor posted his comment on social media, saying: “Haircutting saloons are the places where most of the dermatological infections emanate. The municipal committee should first make it mandatory for all barbers to install small autoclave machines in their outlets. These places are where most of the dermatological infection (contact) emanate. A potential source they have emerged as. Haircut/dressing is in itself a minor surgical procedure, wherein a body part is invasively manipulated.”

When a few local barbers in the town were contacted by this correspondent, they first expressed their ignorance about any such order. On being apprised about the rate list, they said, “Municipal committee has nothing to do. They are unable to remove roadside and footpath encroachments. Our rates are much lower when compared with the market. This is a harassment technique and nothing else.”