In gated societies and decent apartment complexes across India lives a section of our society who work good jobs, have impressive degrees, earn the kind of money that promises them a comfortable lifestyle and come across as the kind of people who are warm, welcoming and believe in an egalitarian world. But their egalitarian values often come to a pause when it comes to sharing a lift with domestic workers and delivery executives.
A woman named Shaheena Attarwala took to social media to share a notice she came across while she was on a lift probably inside a gated society. The notice read, “House maids, delivery boys, and workers should not use passenger lifts. In case they are caught, they will be fined Rs 1,000.”
The thing is, Rs 1,000 might not be a big deal for the people living in the society but it is a huge deal for these workers. How difficult is it to coexist in the same space as them?
As a society we are programmed to hide our dark and dirty secrets and today we think the people who do our hard labour work cannot coexist in a same space as we are. Incase they are caught? Like it’s a crime? Fine of 1000? It’s probably 25% of most of their salary. pic.twitter.com/bmwkcs37J9
— Shaheena Attarwala شاہینہ (@RuthlessUx) November 26, 2023
I have seen construction workers in the west grab a coffee in the same line as me, share the same space as me, maid’s respected and treated with dignity. I don’t get it why the hell are we so elitist and about what? What’s the privilege!
— Shaheena Attarwala شاہینہ (@RuthlessUx) November 26, 2023
The least we can do is oppose such discriminatory behaviours. These are illegal.
— Shaheena Attarwala شاہینہ (@RuthlessUx) November 26, 2023
Several people online slammed these kinds of methods of social segregation. It is insensitive and inhumane, to say the least. Here’s a look at some of the reactions calling the society out:
All these Residents maybe talking of Diversity, inclusion , equity and equality in their Corporate offices …. Just saying
— Kenneth Lean (@kennethlean) November 27, 2023
Indian middle class and upper middle class staying in urban centers is one of the most classiest and racist communities.
I have seen physical demarcation in many societies.
More pronounced in high end gated communities.— Ashu (@ashutoshkojha) November 27, 2023
Our society kind-of forces them to use a 4th lift.
But clicking on either buttons would get you any lift according to the algorithm. Still you only got to wait for L4. No way you get into L1-3 if they come early.🤷
This is torture.
— Kireeti Varma (@KireetiVarma) November 27, 2023
“All animals are equal, some are more equal than others” – Orwell
— Piyush Gandhi (@piyushgandhi811) November 27, 2023
Humans forget to treat other humans like humans at times https://t.co/AjTrJWq6ew
— Vibin Babuurajan 👋 (@vibinbaburajan) November 27, 2023
Horrible. The delivery companies (courier, restaurants and others) should ask people to come and pick stuff up from downstairs. If you can’t treat people who delivery stuff to your door well, then go and get the stuff yourselves.
— Sathya Pandalai (@satpandalai) November 27, 2023
We can eat food cooked by them, have our kids cared by them, etc but somehow we don’t want to be seen to be using the same lift or space with them.
— Jaspreet Singh (@jsprt20) November 27, 2023
The concept of a seperate lift for labours and workers is also a very similar dark side of society
— 𝙃𝙖𝙧𝙥𝙖𝙡 𝙎𝙞𝙣𝙝 𝙅𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙖 (@harpaljhala13) November 27, 2023
As a society, we really need to rethink the kind of values we are leaving behind for generations to come.