Nonagenarian recounts pitiful life as domestic worker

A domestic worker’s life is not a bed of roses. Their service for the society has been indispensable since ages. Yet they are subjected to various risks and their jobs are unsecure. Such is the tale of 90-year-old Pochamma, a resident of Valmikinagar. She has worked as a maid for over 60 years and luxury has evaded her all their life.

As fate would have it, here three sons and three daughters are again employed as labourers and domestic workers in different parts of the city and continue their struggle to survive each day. Pochamma is a native of Cheriyal in Warangal who migrated to Hyderabad in 1950 along with her husband Kondaiah.

He started working as a daily wage labourer for Rs 3 in Allauddin Ice Factory and discontinued work in 1995 at a wage of Rs 25 per day. Subsequently he worked in construction sites where he earned the same amount but the income was not continuous. He later died in 2008 due to ill-health.

“Due to illiteracy and poverty, I had worked as a maid for over 60 years. Of this, I worked continuously for 15 years in a Brahmin’s family, 10 years in a Reddy’s family and worked till about the age of 75. I started earning a wage of Re 1 per day and worked at five houses each day at one point of time. I haven’t been working for the last 15 years due to old age.’

‘Now I stay at a small house near one of my son’s house who takes care of me. I get a pension for Rs 1,000 which was earlier Rs 200. All this money gets utilised only for buying medicines. I am waiting for the Gods to call me soon. I can only pray that other domestic workers don’t face similar hardships,” she concludes.

By:Ch Saibaba