Ghaziabad: RWAs can’t ban entry of domestic staff

GHAZIABAD: Clearing the air on the rules governing entry of domestic and service staff, the Ghaziabad administration on Saturday said RWAs are not arbiters on the subject. They cannot ban the entry of service providers but only act as facilitators of service.
“I want to reiterate — the district administration had not issued any order on the entry of domestic staff, drivers, plumbers and electricians earlier as it had left it to the RWAs.But for the sake of clarity, we issued a specific order on Saturday ... RWAs will act as advisors whose job is limited to ensuring residents can access services and facilities with safety norms in place,” district magistrate Ajay Shankar Pandey said.
The order stated that the entry and engagement of domestic staff, plumbers, electricians, newspaper delivery personnel and daily service staff is up to residents. It is “between service providers and those seeking the services”. RWAs can act as overseeing bodies or take on an advisory role to ensure that social distancing and hygiene norms are followed.
For residents, it’s a welcome relief. Ashwani Kumar, a resident of Vartalok Apartment in Vasundhara, said his mother is 70 years old and has special medical needs. “She is dependent on caregiving staff, who had been denied entry. It had been very difficult.”
RWAs said they appreciate the “clarity”. Vinay Mittal, president of Kaushambi area RWA, said, “The district administration has in hindsight come up with clear guidelines. When this came up earlier, it conveniently remained silent and allowed RWAs to come up with its own rules. I am glad they offered clarity now.”
Sanjay Jha, secretary, Gaur Global Village RWA in Crossings Republik, said this settles the matter once and for all. “On our part, we will conduct thermal screening of every domestic worker entering the society. We are also compiling a list of residents who want their domestic staff to resume work.”
The Federation of Apartment Owners’ Association, an umbrella body of RWAs in the city, said some resident bodies — GC Grand, Ashiyana Upvan, Cloud 9 — had barred the entry of domestic staff into societies. “ATS Society had asked residents to sign an undertaking before allowing workers in. But with the DM’s order, that should stop. We have no knowledge of anyone challenging the order but everyone will fall in line now,” said Alok Kumar, founder of FedAOA.