Petition Gist :
In light of the lock down initiated by the Government of India to fight the Corona Virus pandemic, we see near empty roads. However many of us may have witnessed  many  maids / house hold help walking their way in to multiple house holds. Is Social Distancing only for the White Collared ? Should it not be for all ?  With 10 DAYS to  the lock down ending April 14th,2020, its not too late... Also many many  domestic help workers  who have been asked to take off are unsure if their jobs are secure or if they indeed  would be remunerated.  This is a specific appeal to to the millions employed in Corporates to  fight for the rights of the House hold help / Informal sector workers... Because they do have the same right to to the same Safety / Social Distancing and other privileges  as provided by the Employers  to their workforce in the organised Corporate Sector...Please read on.... Sign.. Support and Spread the word...

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House Hold Help in India immediately need the privilege of social distancing.. The same way ...
Corporate Employers have provided for their employees ..

In epidemiology, the idea of slowing a virus' spread so that fewer people need to seek treatment at any given time is known as "flattening the curve." It explains why so many countries are implementing "social distancing" guidelines

The Covid 19 pandemic is destructive and debilitating to say the least .

Governments , businesses , citizens globally are working hard and towards one singular goal i.e flattening the curve/ breaking the chain.

2001 census India workforce was estimated to be at 400 million . This figure would have grown exponentially in the last two decades . Blue collar : White collar being 78:22

Now , almost 80 percent of India's employee force has been allowed to Social distance.. Its a much needed step in the right direction . An initiative driven by the Government of India and executed by the employers.

Now the employees of such employers must employ at least 2 people in their homes to support them with the household chores ; be it to cook or clean or run errands or care for children or drive cars.

We would have at-least 100 million of such house hold support workers in the country going conservatively with 2001 census figures .

With no clear advisory from the Government around house hold help and their mobility , isn't it the responsibility of the educated work force to restrict their movement ? Help them with the privilege of Social Distancing ?

After all corporate employers have been kind enough to do the same for the white collared , haven't they ?

Given this , we appeal to every corporate employee that they take an oath to have the best interests of their house hold help in mind

1) Firstly by allowing them the privilege of Social Distancing .
2) By reassuring them that they would remain employed.
3) By continuing to remunerate them while they remain absent .
4) By educating them about the ill effects of this pandemic and about social distancing .
5) Keeping in touch with them while they are away.
6 ) By doing all of the above unconditionally and with compassion .
7 ) To spread all of the above inputs with as many people as possible.

Now many people may think , that having house hold help is essential . No having help is a convenience and more so in these trying times.

Only if everyone "Stays In" at the same time will any good would come out of India's attempts at Social Distancing .
It would be counter productive if the office goers work remotely and the excess of 100 million house hold help make their way into multiple households

Many large societies 
and RWAs have already initiated social distancing for house help workers. However we don't believe it's happening all over. We also believe that many of them have been let go or will not be remunerated for this forced time of absence ? 

How is any of this fair or sustainable?

Hence this petition appeals to the sensibilities of the empathetic and intelligent corporate work force to make this a seamless reality and at the earliest

Let's flatten the curve together ?  Lets make this a fair and equitable world? Shall we ?

Multiversal Advisory is  a  CXO Search & Advisory firm spearheading a paradigm shift in senior talent catalysis and management.
Multiversal is invested both in creating both business and social impact. The firm will run a few online campaigns to do its bit to flatten the curve by working very closely with the business and leadership candidate fraternity.

Picture Credit No 1:Arre

Picture Credit No 2: Bindu De Setty