The building, in Delhi, where I stay has 11 residents with 15 supporting domestic staff consisting of full-time maids, drivers and security guards. Since there are about 400 homes in my locality this means our small colony alone has over 5,000 domestic staff. They earn, on average, Rs.10,000 a month. Almost none have insurance. That’s unfortunate because, like the rest of us, the urban poor fall ill and some also die an untimely death. But unlike us, they do not have the means to take care of themselves. On relatively small matters of health, domestic staff faces hurdles of cost, access and attitude.
A maid’s baby had high fever and fits. She was rushed to a hospital known to be non-commercial and considerate. The doctors observed the baby and did an MRI. Fortunately, the baby was fine and discharged the next day. However, since no Economically Weaker Section (EWS) rooms were available, the treatment cost was Rs.18,000 or the equivalent of three months’ pay for the maid.
