ANJALI YADAV/Dehradun
Dehradun’s domestic help market is beginning to change as app-based service platforms such as Urban Company and Snabbit gain popularity among households. Long dependent on word-of-mouth hiring within neighbourhoods, the sector is now slowly shifting toward app-based bookings that promise a more organised way of arranging household services.
For years, most households in the city would hire domestic workers through word-of-mouth within neighbourhoods or personal contacts. However, increased internet use and digital platforms are now prompting some middle-class families to book services through these platforms for home cleaning, appliance repairs and salon services.
A Dehradun resident Archana Goel, who works at a private firm, said that using the platform feels more convenient and predictable during rush hours. “Earlier, I had to adjust to my house help’s moods and timings, which made managing work and household chores quite stressful. Now with these apps, it is much easier to get help quickly and at a time that suits me,” she said. Goel added: “Workers listed on the platform appear trained and the rating system helps me choose services with more confidence.”
On the flipside of things, the shift has sparked concerns among traditional domestic workers who rely on regular households for income. Priyanshu Singh, who is in her mid-40s, said that she is not well-versed in the use of the internet and is worried that in the long run these digital platforms could affect their job opportunities if more families start comparing services or switching to app-based workers.
At the same time, younger workers are beginning to see such platforms as an opportunity. Anuj Kumar, a Dehradun-based cleaner who operates with the help of Urban Company, said that many younger workers prefer joining apps because they can reach more customers and receive payments through a more structured system. Older workers, he said, often continue to depend on long-standing arrangements with families. “I have been using this app to find business for the last two years. I have taken over 500 bookings. This promises a stable flow of income. Now I can feed my family and live a happy life without constantly worrying about ways to find work, because I know the app will get me at least a few tasks daily.”
Meenakshi Kumari, who works as a house help in Dehradun’s Nehrugram area, said that the workers connected to platforms have access to better-paying clients and more structured working conditions, while traditional domestic workers remain dependent on informal hiring systems. She said, “I didn’t know about the app until a Bhaiya where I work told me about it. I now use it for side gigs.” Kumari added that she still relies on references, as that sounds more promising to her.
