North-East Girl Joins 'Beautician' Course, Offered Massage Training

A Meghalaya resident has lodged an FIR against a training institute of Hyderabad where she had enrolled for a beautician's course after she realised that they were giving training for masseurs at spas.

Milmoris Lyngkhoi, who belongs to West Khasi Hills, alleged she was harassed by the Hyderabad institute -- 02 Skill Private Limited -- when she wanted to opt out of the course. Officials of the institute, which is located at Ibranhimputnam Rangareddy district of Telangana, not only barred from leaving, but also demanded money from her, she alleged.

An FIR was lodged with the Laitumkhrah on Saturday (July 22) by Shillong’s Civil Society Women’s Organisation (CSWO) president Agnes Kharshiing. The FIR notes that Lyngkhoi had read an advertisement of the institute which said that the course was for beautician training, but when she reached there, she found that it was giving training for spa massages.

She immediately wanted to leave the institute and return to Meghalaya, but she was stopped by the institute officials who reportedly demanded Rs 20,000 from Lyngkhoi.

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The CSWO president said that the training was for sexually exploiting young rural girls who come to the institute to get some vocational training so that they can earn money. She also said that the institute is duping the girls by offering them training in the name of beautician course, but actually give them massage training.

Kharshiing has also alerted IGP Robin Hibu of New Delhi, to rescue the girl from the institute and bring her back to Meghalaya.

Earlier, the institute had signed a deal with the state’s employment and craftsmen and labour department.

“Lack of awareness and also absence of proper monitoring system can lead to many instances where our people from the region fall prey and are duped,” Hibu told The North East Today.

In 2014, Hyderabad Police had stated that beauty parlours in the state often hire north-eastern men and women to attract customers and that many of these parlours actually run sex rackets.

Picture credit- Social Dream Achiever