TIRUMALA: Tirupati Balaji temple is the richest temple in the country. Hair donation is a main offering here. The board earns Rs 150 crore through the donated hair by the devotees. Hundreds of barbers have been appointed for shaving off hair. But barbers complain that they are paid meagre wages. They also conducted a flash strike the other day against the raids conducted by the vigilance officials. Due to this, devotees could not make their offerings for several hours.

Who buys donated hair?

When Rs 150 crore is received by sale of donated hair alone, people might wonder who buys this. Wig manufacturers are the main buyers. The barbers collect hair shaved off from devotees and store them according to length. The hair is classified into different grades and then stored. Hair above 27 inches is placed in the first category, 19 to 26 inches in the second category, 10 to 18 inches in the third category, five inches to nine inches in the fourth category, and less than five inches in the fifth category.

Low wages to barbers

People all over the world are suffering from baldness. The board auctions donated hair to companies that makes wigs. It is alleged although the temple earns crores through this sale, the barbers are getting low wages. They get paid at the rate of Rs 11 per head. The employees allege that the income is less than Rs 8000. There is also a complaint that the raids are being conducted by vigilance staff due to the tips received by the barbers from the devotees.