Salon chain to train Tihar jail inmates
Having a hair cut at an upmarket Habibs salon could be your idea of comfort but inmates at Asia’s biggest prison would soon be able to afford the luxury. Habibs is all set to train select Tihar prisoners in modern hair styling, reports Ravi Bajpai.
Having a hair cut at an upmarket Habibs salon could be your idea of comfort but inmates at Asia’s biggest prison would soon be able to afford the luxury — almost. The high-end hair and beauty parlour is all set to train select Tihar prisoners in modern hair styling.
The jail rooms, where prisoners currently have their haircut, will also be tastefully redone, with better interiors and latest equipment.
“We plan to bring in dummies on which trainee prisoners would learn the skills. We initially plan to teach them hair cutting, facial and makeup,” said Amjad Habib, son of Habib Ahmed, founder of the chain of salons.
Amjad is the technical director of the Habibs Hair Academy in Sainik Farms and runs the family business with his father and brothers Javed and Parvez Habib. A normal hair cut at a Habibs salon costs anywhere between Rs 560 and Rs 1,100.
Each of the 10 prisons in Tihar currently has a government barber who offers services free of cost.
In addition, a few prisoners also double up as barbers. At any point of time, there would be 10 barbers for every 1,500 prisoners. Apart from these barbers, other willing inmates would also be allowed to take training.
“I will hold a seminar at the jail the coming week and hope to begin the first batch with women prisoners, who will, in turn, train others,” said Amjad, who will manage the set up at Tihar.
Tihar officials said this would add to the various vocational activities already in place for imparting professional training to inmates, who can begin lives afresh once released from the jail.
“Such activities motivate prisoners to lead a normal life and also equips them professionally to earn a respectful living,” said BK Gupta, Director General (Prisons). Amjad Habib said it was his long cherished wish to contribute to the society.
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