Spas discontent with cross-gender massage ban

New rules would be ‘difficult to follow’, they say, it will only add to financial struggle

With the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) announcing a ban on “cross-gender massages” for spas and massage centres falling under its jurisdiction on Monday, establishment owners and spa associations voiced their discontent and said that the new rules would be “difficult to follow”.

A spa owner from south Delhi said his establishment has been “shut since the second lockdown” was initiated. “Earlier, my establishment was shut for close to 10 months because of the first lockdown. If we have to reopen, we will have to hire trained staffers according to the new policy and that will add to the ongoing financial struggle. Cross-gender massages happen all over the world and the new rules will definitely leave many unemployed. It is wrong,” he said.

Pooja Chatterjee, president of Delhi Wellness Spa Association (DWSA), said that a “fresh petition will be filed” against the new rules. Previously, a plea challenging the ban on cross-gender massages was filed by Association of Wellness Ayurveda & Spa (AWAS) in the Delhi High Court.