Gadag (Karnataka), February 27 The Karnataka government has facilitated the opening of a salon in the Shingatalur village in the Gadag district, following allegations that Dalits were being denied hair-cutting services by residents of upper castes. Department sources said on Thursday that this followed representations from Dalit residents.
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 neighboring 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 organizations, and the Shivasharana Hadapada Appanna community.
Basavaraj Hadapada from a neighboring village has been allotted the shop to provide barber services in Shingatalur, the sources said.
"This initiative has been taken under the untouchability eradication awareness and harmonious living program to promote social harmony and ensure equal access to basic services," sources in the department said.
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.
