THE WHAT? Mumbai-based salon and beauty owners are said to be wearing black arm bands and staging sit-ins outside their premises in protest against the government’s exclusion of the sector in its Mission Begin Again, according to a report by mid-day. 

THE DETAILS Business owners are said to be suffering a loss of earnings from the two-month lockdown, and are worried about future sales drops as they remain shuttered while other retail outlets begin to open. 

Prakash Chavhan, Secretary of the Mumbai chapter of Salon & Beauty Parlour Association of India said, “It is high time that the government allowed us to work. Lakhs of salon- and parlour-owners have suffered during the lockdown. It’s disheartening to see everyone resuming business while we can’t. We don’t have big savings or huge deposits to fight with such losses. The government must consider allowing us to reopen, otherwise, we have no option but to protest.”

Members of the association are reportedly set to defy official orders and resume business this week. Should this not be successful, they are thought to be prepared to undertake jail bharo agitation.

THE WHY? Salons and beauty parlours have been hit hard in India during the course of the COVID-19 lockdown, with more than 10 hundred thousand barbers or hairdressers being left with no income since it started, according to the association.