Subhendu Ray
Hair loss is a common problem that many people
face, and they often wish they could reverse the aging process that has
naturally taken a toll on their hair growth. However, for many individuals in
certain parts of India and Bangladesh, hair loss is a blessing. This may seem
strange, but it is true. In this blog, we will explore how hair loss is earning
a livelihood for hundreds of families on both sides of Indo-Bangladesh border.
Cross border smuggling of hair has become a new
trend in some villages of North 24 Parganas, Murshidabad, and Nadia districts
in West Bengal. Hairs are either smuggled from Bangladesh or collected from
bordering Indian villages and sent to many wig manufacturing units. Hundreds of
people, mostly women, in bordering areas in Bongaon sub-division of North 24
Parganas in West Bengal are actually surviving on lost hair.
According to Palashendu Roy, convenor of
Charuigachhi Light House Society, a community-based NGO in Bongaon that works
on border issues, “Many people who were involved in cattle lifting and human
trafficking before the border was fenced, have started smuggling hair from
Bangladesh.” Karimpur 1, Karimpur 2, and Hanshkhali are some of the districts
in Bangladesh from where hair gets smuggled to India.
“It is easier to smuggle hair from Bangladesh as
BSF men generally do not harass them for smuggling of hairs. Besides, it is
also easier to throw them over the fences as the sacks full of hairs are very
light in weight,” said a hair smuggler, who requested anonymity.
Hairs are collected from many villages in Bongaon
subdivision, including Charuigachi, Boaldaha, Kalmegha, Aropota, Arshingri,
Tangra Colony, Sutia, Bashghata, Banglani, and Begamgram villages.
“We have hawkers who collect hairs of women from many
villages bordering Bangladesh. They buy a kg of hair for Rs 1000 to Rs 1200.
However, for less than a kg, one has to exchange them with kitchen utensils.
Finally, these go to wig manufacturers for Rs 1800 to Rs 2000 per kg,” said
Palash Chattarjee, a hair dealer of Bongaon.
Collecting lost hairs of women and selling them to
wig manufacturing industries in Murshidabad, Beherampur, Lalgola, and other
parts of the country has become a lucrative business in these bordering villages,
said Toyeb, a hawker.
Sulata, a villager from Tangra Colony in Bongaon,
said: “For the past three years, we are living on lost hairs. More we lose,
more we earn.”
Hair loss is a source of income for many families
in these areas. It is essential to note that this practice is not only illegal
but also exploitative of women's bodies. Hair smuggling is just one of many
illegal activities that occur at border areas. Such practices often lead to
exploitation and harm to vulnerable people.
Hair loss, a common problem for many, is a source
of income for some. Hair smuggling is an illegal activity that occurs in
certain parts of India and Bangladesh. Although it may seem like a strange
practice, it is a harsh reality for many people. It is crucial to find
alternative, legal sources of income for these communities and discourage such
exploitative practices.
