On 8 November, some apartment associations around Cubbon Park had domestic workers in their apartments profiled. Photographs, fingerprints and detailed information of the workers were recorded by a private agency. The profiling was organised by Cubbon Park police station.

Domestic workers Protest Pic: Navya P K

The private agency Hamari Suraksha in its website says that it is ‘rooting out domestic terror' through this procedure. This is supposed to prevent crimes committed by domestic workers and help the police track workers when there is a crime.

We are not criminals

The event sparked off a protest on 10 November by Domestic Workers Rights Union (DWRU). About 50 domestic workers who were part of the union, marched to Cubbon Park police station and then to the police Commissioner's office.

The workers' contention was that the entire community was being generalised as criminals. DWRU has raised concerns about making workers' personal details accessible to public. It has demanded that registration should not be supervised by the police; instead it should be done by the Labour department, which would give identity to domestic workers.

"This would be beneficial for both workers and employers. Workers can complain about cases of harassment, employers can approach the department too," says Pusha Seth, 33, a domestic worker based in JP Nagar, who had participated in the protest.

M Mary, a domestic worker in her 40s staying near LIC Colony, says that she will not give her details even if the police asks her to. "We are not criminals to be treated this way. There may be some workers who commit crimes, but we have been working honestly. Also, if police comes to my house for verification, what will neighbours think?"

During the protest, Police Commissioner Jyothi Prakash Mirji told protestors that the police was not concerned with the process at all, and that workers would not be forced to give their information. "He said that the programme was already functional in cities like Mumbai and Delhi, but assured us that workers would not be coerced into giving details. He did not give us anything in writing though," says Geetha Menon of DRWU.

They again protested on November 29th at the Labour department. "We co-ordinated with two other domestic workers' groups in the city also for this. There are only about 60 active domestic workers in DWRU now," says Geetha.

Speaking to Citizen Matters, Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Suneel Kumar maintains Mirji's narrative. He says that the police are not part of the process and does not have any tie-up with the company.

Cubbon Park station Inspector S Badrinath says that the registration was started as per the demands of resident associations. "Police is not connected to this. I only sent two beat policemen as I was invited to the registration in one apartment," he says. Citizen Matters has a copy of the letter that Badrinath sent to the apartment associations, intimating them about the registration process.

After Cubbon Park police station, other local police stations are also showing interest in the programme. Two weeks ago Hamari Suraksha approached JP Nagar police station with a proposal to implement the project in its jurisdiction.

JP Nagar Inspector S K Umesh is supportive of the initiative and plans to speak to the local apartment associations about implementing it. "Police is only a nodal agency in this. The agency approaches us first as it would give them credibility. We will organise a meeting of residents and the company, and residents will make their decision," Umesh says.

Navya P K is a staff journalist.

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