Shreha Dhargalkar demands action against unhygienic tattoo shops, alleges many tattoo artists related to film industry using non-sterile equipment

PANAJI: Speaking to media persons in the capital city of Goa – Panaji on Thursday, popular activist and women’s rights worker Shreha Dhargalkar alleged that several illegal tattoo shops have sprung up in the coastal belt of Goa as well as in cities like Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru, which are exploiting women, many of them models and actors, who love to ink themselves.

Most of these tattoo artists are also connected with the film industry and Bollywood and use models and actors to promote their business, but also exploit these actors and models in the long run.

Coming down heavily on illegal and unhygienic tattoo studios, shops and outlets in major metro cities of India as well as the tourism state of Goa, Shreha, while speaking to media persons said, “Many tattoo shops do not have a panchayat or Municipal license, forget about a FDA license. In the USA it is compulsory for tattoo shops and artistes to obtain an USFDA license,” she stated, alleging that the water used for mixing inks and pigments in many tattoo shops is not sterile and can result in a severe infection.

When it comes to the tattoo business, most of the shops, particularly in Goa are run by fly-by-night operators who invest in the shops and hand them over to novices or trainees to handle on a commission basis.

They exploit women and models and some of them also sell or peddle drugs, Shreha alleged, adding that there have been several complaints by foreign tourists who were molested by tattoo artistes.

These novice tattoo artistes do not use sterile materials, inks and water. They do not have the requisite licenses and permissions and yet charge anywhere from Rs 5000 to Rs 10,000 per hour to do a tattoo,” Shreya alleged, adding that film, modeling and fashion industry people are the most exploited and conned in the name of getting a tattoo made.

She alleged that the inks used are contaminated and even if the ink vial is sealed and air-tight or the label says the product is sterile, if the product is used beyond the expiry date or the water used to thin the inks and pigments is not sterile, infection can result.