From distancing to discrimination: Societies shun 5,000 domestic workers

Awareness campaign launched to sensitise employers in Sahakar Nagar and other areas, as the housemaids — rendered jobless and unpaid — say they are on the brink of death by starvation now thanks to the lockdown. The slum has long been declared a non-containment zone by PMC

The easing of lockdown norms of the COVID-19 pandemic has seen Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) allow domestic workers who reside in non-containment zones to resume work. And yet, over 5,000 women of Janata Vasahat and Parvati fear the loss of jobs from long-time employers, who have simply asked them to stay away. Moved by their plight, a team of local do-gooders has now even made an emotional appeal to such employers and chairpersons of housing societies. Besides posting awareness flexes around, the youths are also requesting society residents to ‘help their help’.


Janata Vasahat, Pune’s largest slum spread over 100 acres near Parvati Hill, is now a non-containment zone. With some 60,000 residents, thousands of women here work as housemaids and housekeeping in Sahakar Nagar, Parvati Darshan, Satara Road, Sinhagad Road and some Peth areas. Work stopped for them as the lockdown dawned at March-end, and while a few employers paid for April, they have now been told to stop work. Some were assured a half salary for April, but few got it. Now, they say their survival hangs in the balance. Even if they search for a new job, the gates of most societies are closed.



One such maid, Pratiksha Kadam, who has worked at Sadashiv Peth for seven years, said, “My employer paid for March and then stopped. Even the government asked them to pay us at least half the salary. We have been without work and money since April. We are literally starving as both my husband and I are jobless now.”

Echoing her, Vaishali Mhetre, who works at six societies on Sinhagad Road, said, “All my employers asked me not to come till Diwali. I got just Rs 500 at each place. We get rice and dal on the ration card, but what about other expenses? Till when will PMC and others give us essentials? Also, the kit contains 1kg rice and other items monthly. It is not sufficient. There is no oil, gas and other food in the house.”

Just like Mhetre, Mumtaj Benoor, who lost her husband months ago, was asked to not to come for six months.

"I did domestic work at six houses, but they have all ostracised me. One employer paid for April. The others said they are also facing a financial crisis. I was shocked when they asked me to search for another job. I have three children. How do I manage their school and other expenses?"

Some have also lost other means of employment alongside. Malan Salunke, a vegetable vendor-cum-housemaid, said, "I earned Rs 3,000-4,000 a month selling vegetables and doing housework at two places. But since April, I have not been able to sell vegetables and have not earned a single rupee. There is nothing remaining in my house to cook. My employers directly said that I have to stay away because I am a slum resident." Her namesake, Malan Jamadar, said, "I stay with my son, an unemployed alcoholic. I have worked for 10 years as a housemaid, but not anymore. I begged by employers that I will follow all norms and not even enter the house. But want to take no risk. I have no option but to commit suicide.”

Summed up Vijaya Kamble, “The government has asked to pay all domestic workers, but no employer is ready to pay or allow us to work in their house. Modiji gave only rice, which needs other materials to cook. We stayed home, following distancing. We are innocent but still suffering. We face ‘containment zone’ stigma and societies are shut to us. They have not even given half salary of many months, considering our loyalty and labour of years. My entire family is jobless and starving. With not even two meals a day, we feel it is better to die of coronavirus than hunger.”



Interestingly, the sprawling slum had largely stayed away from COVID-19 for weeks by self-discipline and distancing. It was only mid-May that a few cases were reported, which spread rapidly in the packed district. But, the situation was controlled just as fast, despite disadvantageous living conditions.

Yet, while residents here proudly shed the containment tag, their livelihoods are now at risk. A few local youth, who had earlier liaised with PMC to ease lockdown implementation in the shanties, have come forward to help again, and posted multiple flexes in areas where the domestic help are employed. The signs read, ‘Let’s save humanity’, and state, “All society residents have been helped by domestic workers at home for years. Now, they need your help. Residents of Janata Vasahat kept away from COVID-19 by strictly following safety norms for 60 days, but the eased lockdown caused infections here. And, it was controlled again by residents. They have been stuck at home since March and now face a financial crisis. Many are starving. They need work to feed their families. We humbly request you to show humanity and call them for work. They are ready to follow all norms and undergo medical check-ups.”

Suraj Lokhande (35), who posted such flexes, said, “While PMC has allowed resumption of work for domestic help, housing societies are not ready. Even if a family wants to call their maid, society management opposes it. We have prepared a list of such societies, and been meeting them personally to request easing up. It has become very difficult for many slum dwellers to resume work. Raising awareness in their workplaces is the key. Thousands of women do work like cleaning utensils, washing clothes, cooking and housekeeping. Now, almost all have been fired! PMC is not providing enough grocery kits and essentials and employers are shunning them. What will they do? Our campaign is an appeal.”



Similarly, Mahendra Ganje (30) said, “We have been creating awareness on social media. It is a temporary situation and will change. Many of these women are sole breadwinners, and yet facing this harassment. But we are trying to tackle this mentality so that employers help the women running from pillar to post to get their job back. We go with the housemaid and meet society residents. Some agree while others strictly say no, fearing infection.”

Amar Jangam (31) summed up, “We visited six societies in Sahakar Nagar on Thursday, as 80 per cent of domestic workers are employed in this area. We met chairpersons and told them that we have no positive patients and are following all norms. These women have no other livelihood. Many of them have worked in some homes for over a decade, but are being exploited by the same families today. We are not asking for free salary. We are asking for work.”