ANJALI YADAV/Dehradun
The robbery at the councillor Amita Singh’s residence has brought the hiring and verification of domestic workers through placement agencies under scrutiny after police found that the domestic help involved in the crime had a previous criminal record in Delhi. The case has raised questions over the verification process followed by online and offline agencies providing domestic workers. Several such agencies operate in Dehradun and claim to check identity and address documents, conduct police verification, court verification and provide necessary training before sending workers to customers.
A servant provider Kavita Negi said that the agency checks the identity and address-related documents before hiring them. “Police verification is then conducted and the verification is also checked through the concerned district authorities,” she stated.
Meanwhile, The Pioneer contacted the Dehradun-based service agency posing as a customer. The agency said that a domestic worker would be provided at a salary of Rs 15,000 and that verification documents would also be provided to the customer. Those working at the agency said that a registration fee of Rs 1,000 has to be paid initially for the process.
The recent incident has now thrown up questions over whether agencies are actually able to detect the previous criminal records of workers before placing them in households and what level of verification is carried out before their deployment.
The revelation of the accused’s criminal antecedents has prompted some residents to favour agencies, provided they follow proper verification procedures.
Dehradun resident Shilpa said that families hiring through personal contacts may not always conduct formal checks. “When someone comes through a relative or acquaintance, people often trust the recommendation and do not check the person’s background. Agencies should provide proper identity and police verification,” she said.
Another resident Deepak Kumar said that agencies also offer a point of accountability. “If a worker runs away or there is a problem, at least the family has an agency to approach. That is not always possible when someone is hired through word of mouth,” he said.
However, some residents said that agencies alone cannot guarantee safety. A Dehradun resident Satakshi Semwal said that families should verify workers independently as well. “Whether the person comes through an agency or a personal reference, the family should check documents and complete police verification wherever possible,” he said.
