Main Lift Ban For Helps In Gated Societies Stirs Row | Hyderabad News

HYDERABAD: A recent social media post about a housing society disbarring maids, drivers and delivery boys from using the ‘main lifts’ – and even imposing a fine — has stirred a debate over this rule prevalent across multiple gated communities in Hyderabad. While it has drawn sharp reactions from one section of residents who term the rule as “ridiculously discriminatory”, others believe such measures are a must for safety and security purposes, especially during a pandemic.
Several gated communities that TOI spoke to said that they have started levying a fine – for using passenger lifts and/or not wearing masks — only after Covid-19 cases started to soar.

“To see it as discriminatory is not correct. These rules are made for the convenience of both parties – residents and service providers. All large communities today have service lifts that are designated for the latter,” said Kalyan Reddy, general secretary of a gated society in Gachibowli. He added: “We are being a little more particular about this lift rule now because of Covid-19”
“Like we have rules for residents, we have rules for people coming into the building from outside. It is not to discriminate. Also, we do not know how many of these people (delivery staff, maids) are vaccinated. So, if they stick to the service lift it is easier because they are fumigated regularly,” said Dr Sai Ravi Shanker, president, Association of Gated Communities, Cyberabad. He said the decision to impose fines has been taken independently by some communities.
Shalini S, living in a high-rise in Nanakramguda, is not convinced. “The other day, a delivery boy was fined 500 for using our passenger lift instead of the service lift. Though I tried to argue with the building management, they refused to relent. Given that all our lifts are regularly sanitised (if the spread of Covid-19 is a fear), why such distinction?” she asked, adding, “Even before the pandemic, I have seen residents ill-treating maids for using the passenger lift”
While Hi-Tec City resident, Prabhakar Rao, says many in his community too have raised a similar concern. “Now people have just accepted the rule and stopped questioning it. They claim it is for the security of residents,” he said.