‘Domestic helps, relatives continue to enter PU’

Deepankar Sharda

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 11

Panjab University’s security personnel are on toes to stop outsiders from entering the campus amid the Covid-19 pandemic, but things are not working in their favour as the campus residents are allegedly sneaking-in domestic helps.

Handful of Panjab University (PU) residents— which includes majority of faculty members and non-teaching staff— have been calling their domestic helps from nearby areas of Sector 25, Dhanas and Khuda Lahora. Confirming it, the PU’s Chief Security Officer said that they have received some complaints. “Yes, we have received some complaints. Our team has been working day and night for maintaining strict orders, but if the residents keep on doing this how can we stop them? It’s a collective effort and we cannot argue with the campus residents everytime they bring in someone from outside to the campus,” said Ashwini Kaul, chief security officer.

Kaul though said majority of the residents are obeying social distancing rules. “I can understand about problems, but everyone has to cope up considering the ongoing situation. Our campus at Sector 25 (South Campus) is the most affected as people prefer to commute through vehicles for purchasing essentials. We have requested them many a times, but to not avail. The entry of domestic help is other major problem. Now, if one household take maid’s helps, the other objects. The ongoing situation is very critical and I am requesting the residents to not to bring any outsider here. We have been keeping up well and for the betterment we should contribute positively in this effort,” said Kaul. There are different categories of houses in both Sector 14 and Sector 25 campus. “We have issued passes to some people who are into essential services. But on different occasions, we have caught people misusing those passes. I just wanted to request the residents to stay at home and don’t allow your household workers or relatives come inside the campus,” added Kaul.