BBC reports:
The barbers would be available in the schools for three days a week and would be paid around 1,000 rupees ($25) a month.
The scheme would cost the exchequer some 40 million rupees ($1m).
"A neat haircut is also very hygienic," Mr Tirkey said.
Earlier, the state government had announced a scheme to celebrate birthdays of students in schools.
"We have to make education attractive for poor students and give them incentives to go to school and reduce the burden for their parents," Mr Tirkey said.
The literacy rate of Jharkhand is 54% compared to national average 65%. Jharkhand’s human resource development minister Bandhu Tirkey said that school principals have been given orders to hire barbers and they will be referred as ‘physical trainers.’ The barbers are lower caste people and their caste title is “Nai.” Both the children and the barbers are very much happy with this new system.
No doubt, this is a good thing. I congratulate the Jharkhand government for coming up with this great idea. However, I believe the most important problem with the Indian poor is not good look but food. The poor families mainly send their children to jobs because the money would bring food for the family. This is a serious problem and government alone cannot solve it. Both the Indian government and private organizations should come forward and take up necessary steps to solve the issue.
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