Jawed Habib to train 1,500 Maharashtra barbers

Celebrity hairstylist Jawed Habib will train barbers under the state government’s skill development programme. About 1,500 barbers across Maharashtra have been selected for the pilot training programme, which will start soon at the Jawed Habib Academy in the city.

As a part of Centre’s Skill India Mission, the skill development department (SDD) has decided to tie up with Mr Habib, one of India’s best-known hair stylists, to train the youth in the business of beauty and hairstyling. The department will soon sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Jawed Habib Academy in this regard.

About 5,000 barbers will be trained under the initiative. It will start in Mumbai on a pilot basis, in which 1,500 barbers will be given training, state officials have said.

“Mumbai is a huge market. Hence we have decided to start the scheme from here. Depending on its success it will be later implemented in other parts of the city,” said Deepak Kapoor, principal secretary, skill development department.

According to state officials, the registration of salons for this scheme has already been completed. A review will be taken on August 16 and the MoU is likely to be signed on August 19.

“It’s a very good step. Mr Habib will train barbers for a short duration. After the training, they will be allowed to display boards declaring that the hair stylist had approved them. With this, their income will increase, along with their standard of living,” said Mr Kapoor.

“This unique concept is going to change the face of the salon industry,” said Mr Habib while speaking to The Asian Age. “The selected salons won’t be our franchises. After training with us, they will be a part of my brand. We will be sharing our skills and beauty techniques with them so that they can make good money.”

There are about 10 lakh salons in the country, which are being run mostly in an unorganised manner. “They are traditionally experts in their work. They just need to be given direction. We are willing to guide them, so that they are converted into an organised player. The project cost will be shared by the Centre,” said the hairstylist, who will also be replicating the scheme in seven other states. His group has 570 salons across 111 cities in 24 states.