Panchkula DM issues orders against blocking entry of maids, delivery boys

Amit Bathla

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, May 22

Residents’ welfare associations (RWAs), sector groups and housing societies in Panchkula will no longer be able to stop housemaids from going to their work in houses and flats.

The Panchkula District Magistrate today issued an order directing the RWAs to ensure the movement of visitors, maids, essential commodity suppliers and e-commerce delivery boys to their localities.

After relaxations during Lockdown 4.0, maids want to work to run their households in this hour of crisis, but they are denied entry in housing societies.

The DM order has also suggested the RWAs, housing societies to persuade residents to make an arrangement for the stay of maids if they are coming from outside.

“In case household workers/maids are coming from outside, residents may be persuaded to make arrangements for their stay inside their houses,” the order added.

KK Jindal, president, RWA, Sector 20, said, “We had asked people to complete their household chores on their own if they can. Otherwise, we never stopped anybody from employing maids. We have advised residents to ensure they (maids) do not come from the infected areas.”

Geeta (30), a maid living in a rented accommodation at Budhanpur, is struggling to make the ends meet. Her husband, a migrant labourer, is without work. “We both are finding it difficult to feed our three children in these difficult times,” she said.

Before the lockdown, she used to work at three houses in Sector 9. She has not been called back to work yet.