Kolkata: From caregivers, drivers to domestic helps or maids, the service sector in Kolkata has been spooked by the fear of being struck off the electoral roll. Many workers have left city households in the lurch as they head to their villages or towns in different districts to cast their votes.
Fear of Losing Voting Rights Drives Exodus
Driven by a common fear that if they shy away from voting, their names might be permanently removed from the electoral roll, these workers have taken leave from their employers to exercise their franchise. Septuagenarian Amita Talukdar lives alone near Ranikuthi and depends on a full-time caregiver due to restricted mobility. On Thursday, her caregiver left for her village in Midnapore to vote. Unable to manage daily chores alone, Talukdar moved to her daughter's house in Tollygunge and will stay there until the caregiver returns.
"I cannot move around without assistance. When my daughter learned that my caregiver left for voting, she took me to her home. Though the first phase of polling is over, I don't know when my caregiver will return. Usually, she does not seek leave. During the enumeration, she had to visit her village for two days. Her family told her that her voting right might be at stake if she did not vote. So, I let her go, but her absence has put me in trouble now," Talukdar rued.
Households Struggle with Worker Shortage
Oindrila Gooptu, a resident of Middleton Row who works at a private school off Bypass, is in a fix with both her maids now on "election leave." One maid handles upkeep, while the other cooks. "I have a tight schedule, and it is difficult to manage both work and household chores without help. I have been living in the city for many years but never experienced such a scarcity of workers during polls. Though I contacted an agency for a temporary maid, they could not send anyone due to a shortage of workforce," she said.
Agencies Grapple with Workforce Shortage
Those running agencies that supply caregivers and maids to households across the city stated that they are grappling with a shortage of workforce. Bhola Dey, owner of an ayah centre at New Garia, said, "Half of my workforce is on leave. Some caregivers told me that if I did not allow them to take leave to vote, they would give up work. The fear of being struck off the electoral roll has panicked them so much that many believe if they do not vote, they will lose the right and be asked to leave the country."
Gopa Bauri, who works in a high-rise off Bypass, said, "I manage a square meal daily by working in households. But this election is crucial as it's in the air that my citizenship will be at stake if I don't vote."
