Jaipur: Poverty alleviation in the rural areas needs visionary steps which can bring the workers and artisans out of the loop of deprivation by helping them keep pace with modernization of their traditional crafts. Such an action can revive livelihood potential for them and increase their income manifold by making use of their traditional skills and aptitude.One such step has been taken in Bharatpur district where the barbers living in the remote areas are facing loss of livelihood with increasing mechanization and modernization of their occupation. The financially well-off barbers migrate to cities and open their shops, but the barbers belonging to poor families often find it difficult to make ends meet and are forced to look for other works of manual labour.
The Lupin Human Welfare and Research Foundation, which has been active in the socio-economic development works in Bharatpur district for the last three decades, has come forward to help out the farmers belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL) by distributing among them the kits of modern equipment used in hairdressing.
During its recent survey undertaken for identification of BPL families in Bharatpur district, the Lupin HW&R Foundation noticed that the barbers living in the far-off villages were finding their survival difficult despite having a good level of traditional skills in their work. Since they did not have gadgets used for hairdressing, they were not able to earn livelihood at the places where they lived.
The Lupin HW&R Foundation’s Executive Director, Mr. Sita Ram Gupta, said here today that the survey had found 3,576 barbers belonging to the BPL, for whom it prepared a plan for making available hairdressing kits with modern gadgets.
The kit prepared by the Foundation especially included the items for hairdressing liked by the youngsters. Each kit costs Rs. 853 and has all gadgets for hair cutting, dressing and dyeing and shaving. During the first phase, the hairdressing kits have been distributed to 1,274 barbers. They include 306 barbers in Deeg Panchayat Samiti, 160 in Kaman, 140 in Sevar, 90 in Nadbai, 142 in Rupbas, 122 in Weir, 102 in Nagar and 106 in Kumher.
Mr. Gupta said more kits were being prepared for the second phase of distribution, which would be done in October. The barber families who have received the kits so far have been able to increase their income twofold by working in their own villages and in the midst of their own communities.
One of the barbers, Hari Om, has opened his own hairdressing shop in his village Pasta, situated in Sevar Panchayat Samiti, and started earning Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 6,000 per month. He was earlier engaged in hair-cutting by moving around in the village and also worked as a labourer.
Hari Om’s shop now attracts a good number of customers everyday and he has started sending his children to school after an increase in income. Mr. Gupta said Hari Om was looking forward to shifting with his family to Bharatpur, where he will open a new shop, if he gets the steady income and his work progresses.
Kalyan Singh Kothari
Media Consultant, Mobile: 9414047744
