New hsg societies to have toilets for domestic helps….Clara Lewis I TNN
Mumbai: The government is yet to take up the Domestic Workers Bill, 1998, for consideration. But it is certainly making a start by asking the BMC to make it mandatory for new housing societies to provide at least one toilet block for domestic helps working in the buildings.
The BMC will, accordingly, modify its Development Control Regulations (DCR) to drive home the message that the existing provision will no longer be voluntary but become compulsory.
The BMC has been told that it must insist on a minimum of one sanitary block, consisting of a bathroom and water closet, for the use of domestic servants, drivers and security staff engaged on a particular premise as also visitors such as courier boys, a civic official told TOI.
The BMC has gone a step further and plans to ask for one sanitary block on every floor. In high-income group housing societies, builders already offer this as an incentive. Old housing societies do not have such a facility but with many of them going for redevelopment, it can easily be accommodated, an official pointed out.
As the toilet block will not be considered while calculating FSI, it will not eat into house space. Around 1,400 housing societies have been given permission for redevelopment at present.
As the toilet block will not be considered while calculating FSI, it will not eat into house space. Around 1,400 housing societies have been given permission for redevelopment at present.
Mangal Prabhat Lodha of Lodha Builders, who is also an MLA, welcomed the governments move. We provide a toilet block on every floor of our city projects. In the suburbs, we provide one for every building. Outside the city, its not allowed, he said.
Sandeep Runwal of Runwal Builders said his company already offers sanitary blocks; so, the notification will not make any difference.
Mario Remedios, an activist working with domestic helps and workers in the unorganised sector, said the state move does not mean much.
Domestic helps need to be recognised as workers so as to entitle them to minimum wages and weekly off. Also, it will help if one has to approach the courts to settle disputes concerning domestic helps, said Remedios.
The government has asked the BMC to make it mandatory for new housing societies to provide at least one toilet block for servants. The BMC, in turn, plans to ask for toilet blocks on every floor