Due to transportation strike domestic workers are forces to spend money on autos

Bengaluru: For Roopa, a domestic help, things were getting better after the struggle due to Covid-19 lockdown. But, things started getting worse again because of the transport strike.

She travels from Tilaknagar to HSR Layout every day but is now forced to spend over Rs 100 to reach her workplace. Her employers who had earlier helped her with bus pass, have now refused to support the transportation costs.

She says that transport workers must also not suffer. She stated, “I don’t blame them. One lost his job recently. All of this is because of the pandemic. Since it started, nothing good has happened. First, we lost our income, then we had to take heavy loans to survive. Now, the strike is forcing me to spend more than I earn. I hope the government solves this.”

Most of the other domestic helps in the city are severely affected due to the bus strike. They were dependent on BMTC buses to reach their workplaces, but now they have to spend more money on autos or have to walk long distances.

Pushpa S, treasurer of the Domestic Workers’ Rights Union (DWRU) says that the protest is affecting the entire schedule and budget of workers. Pushpa is also a domestic worker and travels every day from her home in Ragigudda to Kamakya Layout. Earlier, she used to pay just Rs 40 for bus, but now she has to pay over Rs 300 on autos. Her employers have offered to take care of her transportation charges, but she says that the inconvenience she faces goes beyond money.

She says, “We could just hop on to a BMTC bus and reach home, but now, we have to wait and keep looking for autos. By the meter, it costs me Rs 90, but auto drivers always ask for extra. The haggling adds extra hours to our travel time.”

Pushpa wondered, “We cannot afford to pay even Rs 10 extra and here we are paying hundreds. It is also time to pay the fees of our children. Schools won’t give hall tickets if fees are not paid. Why do we have to face an extra burden in such times.”

Radha K, a field activist says, “Several workers who live in Bovipalya beyond Sarjapur travel long distances and for over an hour every day for work. They leave their homes at 5 am, take shared autos, reach bus stands, and then catch the bus to go to Marathalli, Banerghatta Road and other localities. They are having a tough time now.”

She adds, “From Dairy Circle to Jayanagar, autos charge a maximum of Rs 30. But now, they demand Rs 150 in the absence of buses. Some employers are not empathetic and do not even offer workers water to drink. There are instances of untouchability practice. The pandemic situation has made it worse.”