PNS | DEHRADUN
Acknowledging the safety concerns of citizens at spa centers, the Uttarakhand State Commission for Women has recently prepared Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and submitted them to the State administration for approval. Notably, there have been multiple reports of incidents involving spa establishments across the State that have allegedly exploited women. As a result, the relevant authorities and the USCW have made an attempt to address these issues. Addressing the media recently, USCW chairwoman Kusum Kandwal addressed the complaints she received regarding spa centres. She also shared information about the SOP prepared by the commission, which outlines the proper functioning of these establishments.
Talking to The Pioneer, Kandwal said that she has been consistently monitoring and acknowledging the exploitation of women at spa centres throughout the State. In several instances, she personally visited these locations to address the situation, Kandwal claimed. However, to achieve a permanent solution, the commission has recently drafted SOP to ensure the proper management of spa centres Statewide. The SOP includes guidelines for the operation of these establishments, which encompass verifying the credentials of spa employees, providing separate massage rooms for male and female clients and confirming that staff hold the necessary qualifications in massage therapy. Further, she emphasised that it is essential for spa centres to ensure that male clients receive massages from male therapists, and that female clients are served by female therapists.
She further emphasised that the aforementioned SOP has recently been submitted to the State administration for approval. Any modifications or updates will be undertaken by the State administration, after which the SOP will become applicable for implementation. The commission has been awaiting the approval of the SOP. It is anticipated that the SOP for spa centres will be approved following the conclusion of the nodel code of conduct for the urban bodies election. She said that after the election, she will send a reminder letter to the administration regarding the approval of the SOP for spa centres.
