Let’s give them a dream who help us achieve our dreams!

This article was first published in ISB Spandan, Vol. 2, Issue. 2, February 2018. It won the second place in a woman’s day special contest.

http://flipbook.isb.edu/pages/Spandan/Vol2-Issue2-Feb-2018/html5/index.html?page=1&noflash

“She isn’t coming tomorrow. You can’t travel on a day she’s not coming”, I said. “But my tickets are booked for a 6.30am flight”, replied Pavan. “Postpone it. Take a post noon flight”, I retorted, clearly irritated. “Ah alright! Your LSS-2 will be at your service till 10am tomorrow. 

Happy?” said Pavan, in an attempt to lighten the mood. “Good”, I replied, feeling relieved, and walked out of the room.

By nature, I worry a lot. I find it difficult to leave unwashed utensils in the sink or clothes lying on the bed or toys spread out in the living room. Her presence ensures that I am not constantly worried about the household chores while at work.

I am assured of entering a neat, clean and orderly home in the evening and finding my kid well fed and in a state where I can still recognize her. Behind my success at work and a happy peaceful life is a good LSS-1 (well, even LSS-2. But this article is about LSS-1. So, another day, another article on LSS-2).

In case you are still wondering about what is LSS-1 and LSS-2, no they aren’t the latest offering from the stable of ISRO or NASA, LSS stands for Life Support System. Pavan, my husband, calls himself my Life Support System-2 and our domestic help as my Life Support System-1.

For many of us, the urban-working-women, our domestic help is an important part of our lives. They are a category of women who see affluence closely and daily, with little hope to experience it themselves.

This is unlike the other category of workers- be it a labourer on a factory site or employed in an infrastructure project or the bottom most in the pyramid employee of a hospital- who do not really see the rich and their lifestyle so closely.

Most of these women are not supported or are left by their husbands to fend for themselves and for their children. They tolerate the abuse at home and often indifference at their work place, while staring at an endless tunnel with no light. They work for mere survival from one day to the next, to put a roof over their heads and some food in their belly.

What are their own aspirations? What is their aspiration for their children? Don’t they deserve a better life? A better future? They are not even recognized by the Government. There are no set wages, no regulations regarding the hours of work, about the scope of work, leaves or pension. There is a draft Act on the anvil but it is yet to see the light of the day!

Drawing an analogy with the Gallup State of the American Workplace study- “people leave managers, not companies”, I can say that the poor performance of the domestic help and their frequent job changes has as much to do with us. They were not born to be domestic helps. Circumstances have made them so. They too need training, empathy, support and security, just like we do in our jobs.

This is a tribute to all domestic helpers who make our lives easier and allow us to pursue our dreams while not having any of their own. As women who have moved up the social ladder and are blessed to be where we are, let us all, in whatever capacity we can, make this world a better place for them as well!