When Safety Meets Resistance: A quiet debate is raging in Kolkata’s households—especially in those where elderly citizens rely on domestic help for daily survival. On one hand, the Kolkata Police is urging employers to submit comprehensive online forms detailing the identity and background of their domestic helpers. On the other hand, citizens—particularly senior residents—are finding the process overwhelming, while many helpers are outright refusing to comply.
The clash is unfolding on social media, neighborhood WhatsApp groups, and even at police stations. What began as a safety measure to protect vulnerable citizens has now evolved into a debate on privacy, trust, digital literacy, and enforcement.
Why Police Introduced the Verification System
Over the past few years, Kolkata has witnessed a troubling rise in crimes involving domestic helpers and caregivers. These cases range from petty thefts to violent attacks, often targeting elderly employers who live alone.
Officials argue that the new online form is not a bureaucratic exercise but a preventive measure. By maintaining a verified record of domestic staff, the police hope to:
- Deter potential offenders from misusing their access to households.
- Enable faster investigation if crimes occur.
- Build accountability between employers, helpers, and law enforcement.
This model is not unique to Kolkata. Similar verification drives exist in Delhi, Bengaluru, and Mumbai, where local police require employers to submit ID proofs and photographs of domestic staff. In fact, Delhi Police has long maintained a “Tenant and Servant Verification” program, available through their official citizen services portal.
When Safety Meets Resistance: What the Form Asks
The online form introduced by Kolkata Police requires a detailed set of entries. For domestic helps, employers are expected to submit:
- Full name, age, and gender
- Names of parents/guardians
- Aadhaar number or Voter ID card details
- Current and permanent addresses
- Contact numbers
- Physical features and identifying marks
- Police station under which their permanent residence falls
- Photograph of the individual
Employers must also add their own details, including proof of address, phone number, and date when the help started employment.
The form is accessible via the Kolkata Police website and can also be uploaded through the Bondhu mobile app, developed for citizen-police communication (Google Play link).
Citizen Pushback: Fear, Fatigue, and Digital Divide
Despite the stated intentions, the rollout has sparked resistance. On the official Facebook community page of Kolkata Police, citizens have shared stories that reveal the gap between policy and practice.
Elderly Employers Caught in the Middle
Many senior citizens rely heavily on domestic help but lack the digital literacy to fill long online forms. For them, the requirement is not just a safety measure but a new burden.
Some admit they don’t know how to upload documents or take digital photographs. Others complain that helpers refuse to provide identity details, fearing misuse.
Helpers Resist: “Don’t Treat Us Like Criminals”
Several domestic workers are reluctant to hand over sensitive details like Aadhaar or Voter IDs. In informal conversations, they argue:
- Distrust of Data Use: “Why should my personal card go to the police? What if someone misuses it?”
- Fear of Profiling: “We already face suspicion in neighborhoods. This makes us feel like suspects by default.”
- Job Insecurity: Some worry employers may reject them if they hesitate to share documents.
For workers in the informal economy—already without contracts or legal protections—the demand feels like surveillance rather than protection.
Social Media Speaks
Reactions have been polarised. Some employers praise the initiative:
“I submitted the form last week and immediately received a confirmation email. It makes me feel safer knowing there’s an official record,” wrote one resident.
Others vent frustration:
“If my help refuses and threatens to quit, what do I do? At my age, I cannot clean and cook myself. Should I be left helpless?” asked an elderly woman from Jadavpur in a Facebook post.
These posts reflect a deeper societal issue: elderly dependence on informal labor colliding with state efforts to regulate that very labor force.
The Police Response
Officials admit the rollout has faced hiccups. A senior officer candidly noted:
“Many employers are willing to comply, but the message has not reached the helpers. They often see this as questioning their integrity rather than safeguarding both sides. We need better awareness campaigns.”
The police stress that the form is mandatory but flexible—if digital submission proves difficult, citizens can email scanned forms to their local police station or submit details through the Bondhu app. Posters and awareness camps are also being planned to explain the purpose behind the initiative.
Larger Issues at Play
The controversy brings to light a number of broader social questions.
1. Privacy vs. Safety
Requiring Aadhaar or voter card numbers inevitably raises privacy concerns. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has repeatedly issued guidelines warning against unnecessary sharing of Aadhaar. Citizens worry whether Kolkata Police has the infrastructure to protect this sensitive data from leaks.
2. Informal Labour Rights
Domestic work in India remains largely unregulated. India has yet to ratify the International Labour Organization’s Domestic Workers Convention (C189), which advocates fair treatment and legal protections for household workers (ILO website). Without such protections, helpers may perceive verification as coercion.
3. Digital Divide
A 2023 National Sample Survey revealed that only about 43% of Indian households had internet access. For senior citizens, the figure is even lower. Expecting elderly employers to navigate online forms without support risks excluding the most vulnerable.
4. Trust Deficit
In many neighborhoods, the relationship between employer and helper is deeply personal. Introducing police paperwork disrupts this trust, making both sides uneasy.
Lessons from Other Cities
Other Indian metros have dealt with similar tensions:
- Delhi: The tenant/servant verification program initially faced resistance but gained traction after police tied it to community policing campaigns. Regular outreach meetings helped normalize the process.
- Bengaluru: NGOs partnered with the police to provide assistance kiosks in localities, helping senior citizens fill forms.
- Mumbai: Police tied verification drives to neighborhood safety networks, assuring workers that the information would remain confidential.
Kolkata could borrow from these models by emphasizing collaboration rather than enforcement.
Possible Solutions
To bridge the gap between intent and implementation, experts suggest:
- Simplify the Form: Limit mandatory fields to essentials like name, address, and one ID proof.
- Assisted Digital Services: Deploy volunteers or NGO workers to help seniors fill forms in person.
- Confidentiality Guarantees: Issue written assurances that helper data will be protected and not misused.
- Incentivize Compliance: Offer helpers official ID badges or certificates upon registration, which may make them more employable.
- Awareness Campaigns: Use community clubs, resident welfare associations, and local pujas to spread awareness about safety benefits.
The Road Ahead
Kolkata Police stands at a crossroads. If the initiative is implemented with sensitivity, it could build a safer ecosystem for vulnerable residents. Mishandled, however, it risks deepening mistrust and pushing households back into informal, unverified hiring practices.
Ultimately, the debate isn’t about a form—it’s about how cities adapt to the intersection of safety, dignity, and technology. For Kolkata, a city with one of India’s highest proportions of elderly citizens, finding this balance is urgent.
As one resident poignantly wrote on social media:
“We want safety, but not at the cost of alienating the very people who take care of us.”
That sentiment captures the essence of the challenge: a city seeking safety without losing its soul of trust and humanity.
🔗 External References:
- Kolkata Police Official Website
- Bondhu App – Kolkata Police
- Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)
- ILO – Domestic Workers Convention (C189)
- Ministry of Statistics – NSSO Household Data
Also read: Home | Channel 6 Network – Latest News, Breaking Updates: Politics, Business, Tech & More
