Domestic help or risk: Apts split after BBMP’s go-ahead

BENGALURU: With BBMP saying your domestic help can report back for duty as long as you don’t live in a containment zone, Bengalureans are heaving a sigh of relief.
But this has triggered a war of words within resident welfare associations, between daughters-in-law and mothers-in-law as well as husbands and wives. In some complexes, residents are seeking a poll on whether helps should be allowed back.
“Working from home without domestic helps has changed kitchen dynamics.While most families are desperate, some insist there’s increased bonding as family members chip in for chores. We’re caught between the two groups,” said the president of a large apartment complex in Whitefield. “Everyone was united when we banned the entry of maids as they could be potential carriers of the coronavirus. They even agreed to pay salaries anyway. Now, the situation is not the same.”
Manisha Julius, resident of SJR Equinox, an apartment in Electronics City, said the primary concern of women is to bring back maids. “Working without them is extremely challenging. Once lockdown eases, many of us will get back to our offices and we need additional support,” she said.
She added that precautions are being taken. Some apartments are considering new restrictions: A maid should stick to working in not more than four houses, to reduce spreading the virus, if she’s a carrier.
Safety measures in place at apartment complexes
Vasanth Chandra, resident of an apartment complex in Malleswaram, said senior citizens need maids. “I’ve been chopping vegetables and cleaning the house along with my regular work. Though the association has given the green signal for maids, we’re ensuring she does not come from a locality in a containment zone or works in a house with people who have foreign travel history.” Priya Suresh, resident of a gated community on Sarjapur Road, said support staff will stay on the premises. Some cases of gated community members sneaking in maids every day have come to light. Ramesh Prabhu, a resident of Kalkere, said: “We’re not stopping anyone from having maids, drivers or gardeners, but we insist they wear masks and gloves.”