For the last few days, I've been getting house-help from Urban Company Insta Help. It's been great. Really amazing in fact. They are solving such a deperate need that people have genuinely been complaining about for decades.
The helps come when you need them, do exactly what you want, and the experience is seamless.
But today I was faced with a conundrum.
We had a permanent cleaning maid till a month back. Due to some issues, I had to let her go. It had been brewing for a while. It finally came to a head when she was leaving for her village. She is quite old. So all this while, despite the issues, we had kept her on because we felt responsible for her. But eventually I had to let her go for my mental peace.
I have been travelling on and off since the last few months. I don't feel the need for a permanent maid when I'm home. So I just use UC once in a while.
But today our old maid came to our house.
She had joined new work after she came back from her village. But the new employer let her go in a month without any notice because their old maid came back. She was so distressed that she was crying. She had spent 1.5 lakhs on upgrades to her house back at the village. Before leaving, she had mentioned that they were organising some pooja and spending 40K on it. I had persuaded her that this is an unnecessary expense and she should reconsider it. She didn't listen. Now she's in debt and has no work. She's 60 and her children are not very supportive.
I'm torn.
On the one hand, UC is more convenient and cheaper for me. On the other, I feel responsible for providing for the maid. I'm not sure if apps like UC, Zomato, Blinkit etc. are creating new employment or taking away old jobs. Many blue collar workers, small shopowners, handymen have lost their livelihood. Especially people who couldn't adapt to technology.
I use Blinkit and Swiggy for groceries - so I've essentially contributed to the closing of mom and pop grocery stores.
I use Amazon - I can't even imagine how much that impacts retail stores.
I use Uber and Rapido - so regular Auto-walas aren't getting any customers on the road like they used to.
I use UC for help now - so the regular maids have no work.
Where does the burden of responsibility lie?
Is it me? Am I taking away their livelihoods?
Is it technology?
Is it simply change?
After all, printing presses, telephone booths and cyber cafes barely exist anymore.
I live in guilt. And I don't know what to do about it.
