Pimpri: On one hand, domestic helpers and maid are struggling to make ends meet because of the lockdown amid the coronavirus, now some societies and its members are still adamant for not allowing maids to enter the premises. Many societies are making separate rules on the allowance of the maids to their premises despite administration and police have clearly stated to allow maids with proper guidelines.
With new advisory now, some residential societies along with its members have decided not to allow maids above the age of 50.
Sakal Times has been highlighting this issue as a number of societies in Pune creating a monopoly on allowing maids and creating new advisory.
Many societies had come up with undertaking form for the society members who need maid, as well as their medical report. Some societies didn’t stop there but also demanded mandatory COVID-19 test of the maid along with an arrangement of weekly injection for them.
Despite being warned by police and administration number of societies are coming up of their own advisory and regulations which is been approved by a few sets of members in the society. Many residential societies are creating an unnecessary fear about the COVID-19 contagion.
Pune which is second most city after Mumbai which is badly hit by the coronavirus is witnessing a continuous surge in new cases. Due to the lockdown, a number of domestic maids are facing a big crisis. Many have laid off their maids as some are working on a meagre amount. There are more than one lakh domestic maids in the city.
Criticising the role played by various societies at present, Kiran Moghe, president of the Pune District House Workers Union, talking to Sakal Times said, "The government has created fear in the minds of the middle class about the COVID-19. This has had an adverse effect on the working class. The government should now start a pension for domestic workers. It is wrong to say that such domestic maids will pull in the infection and transmit to society members.”
She added, "Big problems have arisen during the lockdown. The slum area is containment. The arbitrariness of societies has diminished. People should offer work to maids. More than 30 per cent of domestic maids are over the age of 50. What if everyone took the lead? They need to be supported through work like an employment guarantee scheme. At least the administration should think actively about it."
