RWAs can’t stop entry of domestic staff, caregivers

Gurgaon: The district administration has directed the RWAs of all housing societies and condominiums — even those falling in the containment zones of Gurgaon — to ensure that domestic staff and caregivers are allowed for senior citizens as well as disabled or ailing residents.
Deputy commissioner Yash Garg has issued the order in the wake of complaints that some societies and condominiums are not allowing the entry of domestic staff due to the lockdown, thus causing inconvenience to many residents, particularly the elderly.
“All the RWAs/condominiums/housing societies in the district shall comply with these orders in its true letter and spirit so as to ensure that movements of maids, cooks, driver, domestic help, nurses, medical attendees and caregivers to senior citizens, disabled and ailing persons shall not be obstructed under any circumstances,” read the order.
“It is to be noted that these orders shall also be strictly followed in the containment zones/large outbreak regions as declared from time to time by the district administration,” it added.
After the Covid-19 lockdown was imposed, a number of RWAs, condominiums and societies restricted the entry of domestic staff on the ground that they could get infected and also carry the infection from one household to another.
“I am a 70-year-old and my domestic help came on the first day of the lockdown. She was stopped at the society gate the very next day and was not allowed to enter. My wife and I are senior citizens and are completely dependent on our domestic help,” said Pramod Sharma, a resident of Suncity.
Dhruv Bansal, spokesperson for Qutub Enclave RWA, said, “We have restricted the entry of domestic staff because we are in the middle of a raging pandemic where there is a fear of contracting Covid from anyoneHowever, we are allowing domestic staff in special cases where residents are completely dependent on them.”