Hyderabad: Barbers in the state's hairdressing saloons said that they had not received the electricity subsidy from the government since two months, leading to threats from linemen to disconnect the connections unless payments are made.
The Nayi Brahmin community expressed deep dissatisfaction with the government, which had provided a subsidy for 200 units to each barber shop over the past year and a half.
Community members lamented that since the formation of the new state, their caste-based profession was under threat, and there has been a neglect of their concerns. Notably, there has been no federation established for the community since the state's formation. The Nayi Brahmin community, they said, comprises approximately 16 lakh people in the state.
Nadigopa Vijay Kumar, a third-generation barber and owner of Komal Hairdressing Saloon, revealed, "Since September, we have not received the electricity bill subsidy. Linemen are threatening disconnection if the bill is not paid. Upon visiting the electricity office, I was informed to pay first, with the possibility of reimbursement if the government pays."
Kumar, whose saloon has been in operation since 1921, emphasised the need for the state government to safeguard caste-based professions. He was concerned about the rise of numerous shops, including international brands, which are encroaching upon and jeopardising their traditional profession.
A.S. Rao, vice-president of the Nayi Brahmin Association, pointed out that the BRS was supposed to allocate an MLC seat for a member of their community. Since the state's inception, the government has not formed a board. Rao drew attention to Andhra Pradesh, where a federation has been transformed into a corporation.
Rao also advocated for the introduction of legislation to restrict the inappropriate use of their caste name in work, a demand they have been making for several years.
