GOODBYE SHANTABAI

We love to look for new underdogs, so that we can "look after" them and feel good. This search for the underprivileged has reached ridiculous proportions. Each one of us, an NGO, a Mission, a Trust and now even the cours of law and various tribunals is in this game of finding one's own underdog, which one can cuddle, hug and care for. Even the government departments and ministries such as those for labour welfare, environment, women and child care have decided to jump on the band wagon. So, instead of governing, they too are looking for "victims" and the "persecuted" so that they can rescue them and feel good and worthy in their own eyes. In the same quest the a labour welfare body of the government of India has decided to "protect" the domestic workers, the housemaids and manservants. 

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These are the new proposals to "protect" domestic help:

Minimum wages: Rs. 9000pm, higher for skilled ones, like cooks .. .. .. Employer's Contribution to Social Security - PF, Pension .. .. .. Great emphasis on Welfare .. .. .. Maid Unions and collective bargaining .. .. ..

Here are my options:

Robotic Vacuum cleaner: 20,000
Washing Machine: 15,000
Dryer: 20,000
Dish Washer: 30,000
A deep freezer: 20,000
A steam iron: 2000 - 15,000
Semi-cooked or pre-cooked food
More home delivery service
(Total: Rs. One lakh approx.)

Or,

Litigation, harassment by labour inspectors, filing of returns, intimidation by maid unions and NGOs.

The choice is clear.

But wait, who are the gainers in this socialist "protection" game - LG, Samsung, IFB, Hair, Philips, MTR, Kellogs, Domino's ... (Koreans, Germans, Chinese, Americans ... ..)

And who are the losers - The maid, who was earlier happy with four thousand Rupees, which paid for her children's school fees, books, milk and enabled some savings. The servant, who could send five thousand Rupees home to his destitute family in Chhotanagpur since all his peraonal expenses were paid for in kind by the employer - food, clothing, medicines, toiletries ...

They will now remain jobless because some labour welfare department has decided to "protect" them!