Sho(r)t of help? Denizens ste to assist house helps get the
Convincing house helps to get the Covid-19 jab, booking a slot for them and even driving them to the vaccination centre — residents of Delhi-NCR are doing it all to aid their house helps and staff battle Covid-19. Ritesh Gandotra, an MNC professional residing in Delhi’s Vasant Kunj, says his driver’s younger child was born during the lockdown last year, and it was imperative to make sure his driver’s family is safe. “We got him and his wife vaccinated even before us, as he is more exposed to the outside world. Unfortunately, our house help moved to her village with family, without waiting for vaccination. We’re trying to see if she can get it there. And, our cook is completely against getting vaccinated,” he says, asserting that they are trying their best to convince their cook to get the jab.
A Delhi-based home chef, Ragini Saxena, recently got her house help vaccinated, and urges others to follow suit. “They are not so well educated to understand the necessity of getting vaccinated, and also don’t have the required resources to book a vaccine slot online. If each one of us helps at least two such people around us, the burden to vaccinate everyone will lessen from the government’s shoulders, and we will all be much safer,” she opines. Many have cited financial crunch as the reason to avoid getting the jab. With this in mind, some people are providing monetary assistance to their domestic helps.
“The first jab for one of our house helps and our driver was done in our condominium, for which we paid ₹250. And for the second dose, I willingly registered them, and helped find an appointment. This required me to drive all the way to Chhattarpur from Gurugram and wait there for three hours to get it done. For my other house help, I registered on the mobile app and paid ₹1,100 to get her the first dose. I will support her for the second as well. This is the need of
the hour, no questions asked! For all of us to be safe, our house helps must stay safe first. They continue to risk so much for us. This is one way to pay it back,” says Anuja Rastogi, who works in the retail industry.
Gurugrammer Shilpi Singh, a leadership coach, asserts that it’s one’s “responsibility” to ensure vaccination. “Every person needs to be vaccinated. Not just our family members, but also those who are employed with us. Some of them may not find the process easy; we need to extend help and, if needed, shouldn’t shy away from bearing the cost of the same,” she adds.
Some may not find the process easy; we need to extend help and, if needed, shouldn’t shy away from bearing the cost.
SHILPI SINGH, Gurugrammer