Unlock 1: TN Govt Asks Salons to Note Aadhaar Numbers of Customers

Image used for representational purposes. 

(Photo Courtesy: The News Minute)

Looking forward to visiting a salon after over two months of lockdown? Well, the Tamil Nadu government has made it mandatory for customers visiting spas, beauty parlours and salons to share their Aadhaar card numbers from Tuesday, 2 June. The government has introduced this measure to ease contract tracing.

Customer details such as name, address, phone number and Aadhaar number should be mandatorily noted by owners of spas, beauty parlours and salons. This, as per the standard operating procedure (SOP) issued by the Commissioner of Revenue Administration, J Radhakrishnan, for salons, beauty parlours and spas.

However, the move to collect an individual’s Aadhaar number goes against the 2018 Supreme Court order, which had struck down Section 57 of the Aadhaar Act. Section 57 had allowed private firms like banks, telecom companies, etc, to collect Aadhaar details of a customer. However, in September 2018, a five-judge bench called Section 57 ‘unconstitutional’, making it illegal for private firms to ask individuals for Aadhaar card details

According to the SOP, hair stylists should wear masks and gloves and they should avoid putting their hands in the eyes, nose and mouth to avoid the spread of infection.

If those working in salons have a cold, cough or fever they should avoid going to work. The SOP has also urged customers to avoid visiting spas and beauty parlours if they have a fever or display other symptoms of COVID-19.

To avoid crowding, services should only be by appointment. The SOP also instructs salons and spas to ensure that only 50 percent of seats are occupied at a time by customers.

Water taps, chairs, tables, beds used for massages, among other things frequently used, should be cleaned at least five times a day. The SOP also stated that hair straightening machines, curling machines, spa stones, face and hair steamers, laser hair removal machine and dryers should be sanitised before being used each time. Headbands, disposables and towels can be used only once and should be rinsed before being used on another customer.

The SOP, also issued to the Chennai Corporation commissioner and district collectors, states corporations, municipalities and town panchayats, calls for ensuring the effective functioning of the salons and spas by following the prescribed norms to contain the spread of coronavirus.

Salons, beauty parlours and spas across Tamil Nadu reopened on 1 June as part of Unlock 1.0, which eased many of the lockdown restrictions.

(This story was first published in The News Minute and has been republished with permission.)