The Hindu : Crackdown on massage centres

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Dec 12, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram

Crackdown on massage centres

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Dec. 11. Close on the heels of a Swiss woman tourist being subjected to alleged sexual harassment at the Varkala beach resort, the municipal authorities today closed down as many as 50 massage and Ayurvedic centres and beauty parlours in the resort.

The action was initiated with the assistance of the police after the Varkala Municipal Council gave the nod for closing down the centres and parlours. The authorities have also issued notices to the four approved Ayurvedic centres in the beach resort.

The Municipal Chairman, K. Sudarshan, told The Hindu that the centres would be allowed to function only after the local body came out with guidelines. Norms were being formulated for the Ayurvedic centres in the next two to three days with the assistance of the Department of Tourism and the police.

0``We are planning to issue photo identity cards for the staff attached to the centres and to ensure that a qualified physician is present on the rolls. Moreover, the property owners would be asked to obtain an undertaking from those who take the land or building on lease for running the centres,'' Mr. Sudarshan said.

Taking advantage of the tourist season, massage parlours with all sorts of fancy names have sprung up on the Papanasam beach and atop the cliff, offering rejuvenative and therapeutic packages. At present, only a licence from the local body is needed for setting up a centre.

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