The Guwahati Municipal Corporation has issued a new Standard of Procedure regarding therapy, massages and steam baths in spas and salons of the district. According to the new Standard of
Procedure, therapy or massages at spas, salons and unisex beauty parlours in the district, will not be provided by the opposite sex and for steam bath, no opposite sex shall assist in any way.
The GMC stated in an order that it was guided by the principle of 'Ease of Doing Business' and had no objections to entrepreneurs opening hair-cutting salons, beauty parlours, spas
in the city.
"In these establishments, there shall be no exclusive chamber or room. The main entrance should be transparent,” Guwahati Municipal Corporation Joint Commissioner Siddharth Goswami
stated.
According to the Joint Commissioner, these rules were enacted in response to the "number of complaints received from citizens regarding mall practises in certain SPAs, unisex parlours
that are detrimental to civic society."
“Several complaints were received from citizens alleging various malpractices in certain spas and unisex parlours that were considered to be damaging to a civic society; thus, the
Corporation was obligated to respect public morality and the laws that govern civic society.”
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In accordance with civil society norms, the Corporation shall issue trade licences to hair-cutting salons, beauty parlours, spas subject to certain guidelines and with due regard for the
fundamental principle of the Guwahati Municipal Corporation Act.
Guidelines-
- No exclusive rooms or chambers within the premises of the parlour/spa/salon.
- The main doors should be transparent.
- Qualified therapists should be present in spas/unisex parlours.
- Therapy or massage cannot be provided by the opposite sex
- Steam baths may be provided, but the opposite sex should not assist in any way.