Andhra Pradesh: Barbers Working for Temples on Strike, Demand Minimum Wage

On June 15, barbers working with the temples in Andhra Pradesh have declared a strike following a call by Joint Action Committee of Barbers. Reportedly, 1,200 families of the barbers joined the protests across the state. These barbers conduct head tonsures of devotees willing to offer their hair to the deities’ idols in the temples. The sudden strike of the barbers caused inconvenience to the devotees who had made wishes and were intending to make offerings of their hair. The barbers demanded a minimum wage of Rs 15,000 per month, along with Provident fund and ESI for workers, from the state government.

Member of legislative council (MLC) Buddha Venkanna had promised the barbers from the Durga Ghat temple that their demands would be met within 10 days. However, when no action was taken by the government, the barbers struck work. Around 100 barbers staged protest near the tonsuring hall of the Durga Ghat temple. As many as 147 barbers from Srisailam Mallikharjuna Swamy temple in Kurnool and 50 barbers of Arasavalli shrine staged a protest at their tonsuring halls by putting their scissors and straight razors on the ground. The union leaders made it clear that they will continue to protest until their demands are met. Meanwhile, 54 barbers working in Simhachalam Devasthanam served notice to the temple authorities, saying that they will be going on strike from June 16. The YSR Congress Party – in opposition in the state – spoke out in favour of the protesters, as its leaders said they would take up the agitation on behalf of the barbers.

In Tirumala temple, however, where maximum number of head tonsures take place daily, the barbers did not go on strike. The temple hires a total of 900 barbers, out of which 500 are permanent employees, while the rest work on a contract basis.

Along with the demand for minimum wage, barbers also asked the state government to pay each barber Rs 5,000 as pension, and in case a barber dies during the service, employment to his heir and Rs 5,000 for the members of his family on humanitarian grounds.  Barbers currently get Rs 13 per tonsure, and they are not covered under the provident fund, EFI and the pension scheme.

A barber at the Kanaka Durga temple, while speaking to Hindustan Times, said, “We are not able to make both ends meet with this paltry wage. On some lean days, we end up earning less than Rs 100 a day. How can we run our families and give education to our children? We want implementation of minimum wages for barbers.”

The Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh KE Krishna Murthy, in response to the strike, assured the protesters that their issues will be resolved following a meeting with the association members and officials on June 18. He requested the barbers to withdraw their protest and to resume their duties.