straitstimes.com

Barber shop boss gives free haircuts to seniors and the disabled to ‘give back to S’pore’

SINGAPORE – Despite rising rental and other business costs – and notwithstanding the closure of three outlets in 2024 – the Indian Barber Shop is still giving free haircuts to seniors aged 70 and older and people with disabilities of all ages.

Its haircuts cost between $10 and $12, depending on the location. Those aged between 60 and 69 pay half the normal price.

The Indian Barber Shop now has five outlets – at Limbang Shopping Centre, 321 Clementi mall, Senja-Cashew Community Club, Block 440 Pasir Ris Drive 4, and in a dormitory for foreign workers in Tuas.

The barber shop’s boss, Mr Veerappan Muthukumaran, 46, said his customers have come to trust that his shop will provide free haircuts to the elderly and people with disabilities, and he does not want to disappoint them.

He said: “If I stop, my customers would be unhappy. I feel this is my contribution to Singapore and people living in the area.”

His barbers give at least 20 to 30 free haircuts across all its outlets each day, and this adds up to at least $5,000 or $6,000 in forgone revenue each month.

Mr Vishnu Vijendran, 45, a Malaysian barber who started work at the Indian Barber Shop four months ago, said he has not come across another barber here who gives free haircuts to seniors in his 28 years of working in Singapore.

He said many seniors are thankful for the free service. Some would give a token sum of a couple of dollars, while others would buy the barbers coffee or snacks in appreciation.

“A Malay lady cried when we told her that the haircut for her son, who has autism, is free. She said no one has ever given her son a free haircut before,” Mr Vijendran said.

He added that the woman, whose son uses a wheelchair, later bought them meals from McDonald’s to thank them.

Mr Veerappan, a native of Chennai, India, moved to Singapore in 2010 as his wife took up a job as a scientist here.

Although he is a commerce graduate and a former banking operations professional, he could find a job only as a clerk here.

thbarber/ST20250307_202521800574/Ng Sor Luan/The Indian Barber Shop at Limbang Shopping Centre has been giving out free haircuts to seniors and people with disabilities. Owner of the shop, Mr Veerappan Muthukumaran, 46.

Mr Veerappan Muthukumaran, who is from Chennai, moved to Singapore in 2010 with his wife, who had landed a job as a scientist here.ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN

Then in 2014, there was an opportunity to take over a barber shop business in Jalan Kayu and he grabbed it. Mr Veerappan has no barbering skills, and hires barbers to run the Indian Barber Shop.

In 2015, a customer asked if his staff could make a house call for her father, who was ill and bed-bound. Mr Veerappan waived the fees upon seeing the senior’s frail state.

After that visit, his staff also visited a dying man in hospital to fulfil his wish of getting a haircut.

Those two incidents initiated the Indian Barber Shop’s charitable efforts, and its barbers began giving ill or frail seniors, among others, free haircuts at home or in nursing homes.

In 2017, Mr Veerappan decided to expand his “charity work” by offering seniors and people with disabilities a free cut at his shops, so that more people can benefit from the service.

“I have an opportunity to do business in Singapore and I wanted to do something to give back to Singapore. I consider Singapore as my home now,” the Singapore permanent resident said.

His wife, now a homemaker, and their two children have become Singapore citizens.

At its peak, the Indian Barber Shop had over 20 branches, but the Covid-19 pandemic took a toll on the business. Post-pandemic, rising rental and other business costs have also affected its bottom line.

Mr Kabilanraj Silvarajah, a barber at the Indian Barber Shop, giving Mr Lee Liaw Boon a haircut on March 7.ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN

For example, the rent at one shop rose by about 20 per cent in January.

Mr Veerappan said: “We are struggling as the rental is rising and so is competition from other barbers. But I can’t increase my prices as people won’t come.

“We go through ups and downs, and the business is not profitable all the time. There were months when I made losses, and I have had to take bank loans before.”

Three seniors whom The Straits Times interviewed praised Mr Veerappan for looking out for seniors, especially those with little to get by.

Mr Siow Sow Lin, a 76-year-old retiree, said in Mandarin: “I usually give $3 or $4 as they are running a business and also need to pay rent. If I don’t give something, I would feel paiseh (embarrassed in Hokkien).”

Mr Kwek Tee Nee, a 86-year-old retiree, said he would usually give $5 as he can afford to give something.

Barber Vishnu Vijendran cutting Mr Kwek Tee Nee’s hair. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN

He added: “The boss is very kind to give free cuts to seniors.”

Theresa Tan is the senior social affairs correspondent at The Straits Times. She covers issues that affect families, youth and vulnerable groups.