Launderers seek relief in shop rent, power bills
PRAYAGRAJ: Launderers and washermen here have demanded that the services they render to hospitals and nursing homes should also be counted among ‘essential services’ and that they should be allowed electricity charge at domestic rates and 50% relief in rent of shops.
A member of the dhobi community and claiming to represent washermen, launderers and dry-cleaners, Mamata Diwakar of Airport Road (IIIT intersection) Pipalgaon, has tweeted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, chief minister Yogi Adityanath and noted actor Sonu Sood (who has been helping people in distress during the pandemic), seeking help.
“There are more than 500 people working at dhobi ghats in Prayagraj. Thousands of people are doing laundry and ironing work. The Dhobi Samaj wants that its services to hospitals and other medical establishments during these corona times be recognized and some support be provided to them to help them survive as the business has been hit hard,” said Mamata who has also sent her representation to the PM and the CM through registered post.
“Even during this terrible epidemic, people associated with the dhobi community and laundry service have been serving the society, putting their lives at risk. For the past several months, the economic condition of the people active in this trade has been hit hard,” pointed out Raj Kumar, a washer-man operating in Civil Lines.
He said that it was not possible for the average washerman or launderer to pay shop rent, electricity bill and charges of using dhobi ghats etc.
“Meanwhile, the house/shop owners have also increased the rents. Recently, such support has been extended to washermen in Thane district of Maharashtra. We have therefore urged the Prime Minister, the chief minister and actor Sonu Sood to take some steps to help us out,” he added.