The government in the northern Indian state of Jharkhand has decided to hire barbers to give students free haircuts.
State minister Bandhu Tirkey said that many of the students going to government schools were so poor that they could not afford regular haircuts. He said some 40,000 barbers would be hired to give haircuts to students in an equal number of government schools.
Human Resource Development Minister Bandhu Tirkey said school principals have been directed to begin hiring barbers.
They would be called "physical trainers" instead of their traditional caste name of "Nai". Many barbers traditionally belong to lower castes in India's caste hierarchy and their surnames point to their profession.
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.
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