Youths getting attracted to salon business

Hari Prasad Koirala, Letang (Morang), July 5: Once they have traveled overseas, the average Nepalis do not wish to return to Nepal. Working abroad to send your earnings home or to send your children to boarding schools is already ingrained in Nepalese minds. However, Kazi Magar of Letang-2, Morang, did not go abroad once he returned.

It has become an example that you don't have to go abroad to earn money. The salon business is considered to have the largest presence of workers of Indian origin in the Nepali labour market. 

Magar started looking for a future in the salon business 20 years ago. In the early days, Magar found it very difficult to compete with Indian barbers. Haircuts were not allowed for people who have already become "Laure", as neither caste nor prestige can be earned. However, he was not allowed to cut his hair by way of caste. His determination couldn’t be stopped by his relatives or the community. Magar, 44, who went abroad with the dream of earning millions, stayed abroad for two years.

He returned to Nepal thinking of selling labour in his homeland rather than suffering there. Over a period of 20 years, Magar has not only made money but also earned respect and honor. He has earned not only from saloons, but also from sewing, selling street foods, construction workers, mill workers, and carpentry business. He states that all occupations are respected and he has never had to sit idle without getting a job. He has also employed five people from the hilly areas in his salon.

Magar has been able to impart hair-cutting skills to 50-55 people in a period of 20 years. Some are running their businesses in Letang Bazaar. Some have gone abroad to work in salons and well-known parlours. Magar said, "I earn 1,500 daily." Employees also earn at least 1,000 rupees. As the workload has increased, he has now expanded the salon to accommodate six people at a time.

Vijay Limbu, who learned to use scissors at the age of 16, is now 18 years old. He thought of not going abroad, so he learned to cut hair with Kazi Magar and started working there. Vijay learned the skill so that he doesn't have to eat from the earnings of others. After learning the skill, you can find work everywhere. He said the daily income is not less than Rs. 1,000. There are nine salons in Letang Bazaar, which is dominated by hilly communities, and four are run by hilly community people.