Corona conspired: Residents and RWAs tussle with doorstep delivery
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Just before the Capital — along with many other Indian cities — was brought to a state of lockdown, hand sanitisers, milk powder and other essentials flew off the shelves in supermarkets. The resulting dearth has put the entire load on e-commerce websites. But now, the catch is, with the rising number of Covid-19 cases, many societies have barred delivery personnel from entering, putting the residents and Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) at loggerheads. For Shaurya Shubham, a resident of Gaur Grandeur society in Noida, it was quite a challenge when his order from an online grocery store was cancelled, and he couldn’t even take in a trained service professional, who had come on a scheduled visit.
With residential societies restricting the entry of outsiders, including maids, drivers and other temporary workers, residents have to deal with piled up chores. “My job requires me to work 8 to 10 hours in different shifts. After I wrap up the office tasks, I have to cook and clean as the maid is
Mallika Bhagat
on leave. And since the online delivery personnel isn’t allowed till my doorstep, should I go out and put myself at risk of getting infected?’’ asks Priyanka Mukherjee, a 28year-old whose residential society underwent immediate lockdown after a positive case of coronavirus was detected.
These restrictions have not just inconvenienced the young, but also the old and the injured. However, RWAs of various societies believe these restrictions are the need of the hour, considering the rising cases of infection.
Isha Bhandari, RWA culture secretary of DLF Hamilton Court, Gurugram, says, “Our task force of young volunteers call up the older citizens of the society every day and fetch their deliveries from the gate whenever required. Our measures may seem extreme, but they are for the safety and well-being of the residents during this pandemic.’’
ISHA BHANDARI
RWA CULTURE SECRETARY