Salons, appliance repair shops in Chennai see crowds

CHENNAI: A day and a half before another week-long complete lockdown kicked in, public thronged not just supermarket and grocery stores but mobile phone and home appliance repair shops too.
In several neighbourhoods, salons had customers coming in from Saturday evening until Sunday noon. "It is not clear whether the government allowed opening of salons and spas in this brief window, but authorities turned a blind eye towards it and most salons in my neighourhood were crowded," said T Santhosh, a resident of Adambakkam.
According to M Murugan, who runs a home appliances repair shop near Madipakkam bus terminus, he got many work orders to repair mixie or grinders since Saturday. At some larger service centers, there were even queues outside.
"Home appliances in kitchens are essentials. I came (to a repair shop) for regular servicing as next week is a complete lockdown period," said G Subha of Nanganallur.
People were seen queuing up outside pawn shops in areas such as Madipakkam, Adambakkam to pledge jewellery to meet living expenses in the coming days as daily wagers, roadside vegetable and fruit vendors would be out of business for a week.
"It would be helpful if the government identifies such vendors in each neighbourhood and provides them with carts to sell vegetables during the lockdown, their livelihoods are also at stake here," said P Balamurugan, an activist.
Electricians, plumbers, carpenters and other skilled workers too flocked to hardware stores to stock up on tools and spares. "We usually buy tools and required items on the day of work using customer's money. But due to the complete lockdown, we had to get money and buy tools in advance. It is not clear whether we will be allowed to move around for work. Some of us take up work in government buildings too. So, it is better to be prepared," said S Karthikeyan, an electrician from Keelkattalai.