Maharashtra to open salons and gyms within a week, informs cabinet minister Aslam Sheikh

UPDATE: Salons to open from June 28

Maharashtra minister Vijay Wadettiwar has said that  Cabinet has decided to open saloons in state from June 28. decision was taken after 12 people related to saloon business committed suicide due to lack of income.

In a major relief to residents in Maharashtra residents, State cabinet minister Aslam Shiekh on Thursday, informed that saloons and gyms are set to be opened within week across  state, at a cabinet meeting, report sources. Maharashtra is one of few states which has still kept salons, barbershops closed till date as Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases continue to rise. Maharashtra tops country's tally with 1,42,900 cases and 6739 fatalities.

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Barbers protest, demand opening of saloons

On June 11,  barbers in Aurangabad district held a protest demanding that state government allow m to reopen ir salons as COVID-19 crisis and lockdown has impacted ir livelihood. Maharashtra Nabhik Mahamandal, a state-level association of barbers, warned that if government fails to grant permission to m by June 15, y would reopen shops and were ready to face consequences. NCP's Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule too urged  Maharastra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar that barber shops will be able to take all adequate precautions whilst offering services.

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Maharashtra's 'Mission Begin Again'

On May 31, Maharashtra issued lockdown guidelines for new lockdown valid till June 30. In addition to Centre's guidelines for reopening in phases, Maharashtra has imposed phase-wise reopening of activities in areas of MCGM (Mumbai), Municipal Corporations of Pune, Solapur, Aurangabad, Malegaon, Nashik, Dhule, Jalgaon, Akola, Amravati, and Nagpur. In rest of state, all activities are allowed except for ones mentioned in prohibited list.

As mentioned in prohibited activities, Maharashtra government has banned opening of Cinema halls, gymnasiums, swimming pools, entertainment parks, atres, bars and auditoriums, assembly halls - in line with Centre's guidelines. In addition, Maharashtra has also banned re-opening of Barber Shops, Spas, Saloons, Beauty Parlours and religious places of worship. Maharashtra has also restricted inter-state and intra-state travel unless one has a pass.

Maharashtra issues 'Mission begin again' guidelines for phase-wise reopening till June 30

Maharashtra rules out 'lockdown extension'

Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray has clarified that state government had t re-anunced lockdown and urged people to follow government guideline on safety and precautions against COVID-19. Moreover, Railways has commenced plying local trains but only for 'essential employees' - designated state govt employees and private healthcare workers, to take burden off BEST buses which too have commenced. state has also capped its COVID-19  tests and testing by collecting samples from home at Rs.2200 and Rs.2800 respectively. 

Maharashtra: NCP leader Supriya Sule urges govt to allow barber shops, salons to reopen