‘No empowerment’, it’s just about livelihood

“Now and then, companies and contractors come up with the ideas for empowering us (that’s what they call it), but nothing really changes on the ground. They forget that giving a job to a person, man or woman, and giving them dignity in the job are two very different things,” says Geeta, a parking lot attendant at the Sector 35 market, who has been working in the field for the past 14 years.

Failed projects, mass termination of employees and unfavorable work environment, Geeta and her fellow women parking lot attendants in the city have been through it all, but a handful continue to be persistent and patient.

Another woman attendant, with a stint of about eight years, said on the condition of anonymity: “There was a project with a private company through which several women attendants were hired a few years ago, but that ended badly for them when the Administration decided to cancel the contract without notice.”

And for a few who were lucky, who did manage to keep their jobs as attendants in face of multiple mass terminations in the past few years, things have not been promising either.

“As easy targets, women are the first ones to be fired whenever something goes wrong. If there aren’t enough revenues, we are blamed for not doing our jobs properly. What can we possibly do when every other car owner says he/she will not pay the parking fee because they are in the Army or the police or are lawyers,” said the attendant.

Geeta concurs with the same, adding that despite knowing the protocol, it has become increasingly difficult for them to do their jobs. “We have been told not to charge from the Army and the police personnel, but we cannot pick a fight with every other lawyer or doctor, or someone without an ID,” she adds, pointing out that these cases are far more common than one could imagine.

But after years of working in the field, it is the unkind behaviour that hits these women harder. As Geeta points out: “We get used to the rude and sexist behavior towards us, even to lack of the most basic facilities such as clean public utilities. However, general lack of gratitude, both from visitors and our seniors in the Administration, is what often hurts us the most.”

“I am a single parent of two and there are times when I need to check in with my children over phone. My bosses here know that, but that doesn’t stop them from yelling at me for taking two minutes off for an emergent call,” elucidates Geeta.

“I understand that they owe me nothing, but a little understanding is not too much to ask for, is it? I have never even gotten a kind word from them, leave alone acknowledgement or appreciation after years of service,” she laments, while sitting in her booth and sorting the collection from the afternoon’s work, with her senior hovering incessantly right outside the booth.

Still, all is not lost for these women as there are a few silver linings. The wages, minimal as they are, have been fair irrespective of the employee’s gender. Both men and women make the same amount for the same number of hours put in, and the women attendants are quick to acknowledge that.

“This is as good as the job I have had in the past. As women, it is tough for us in every workplace, but here at least, we do not have to fight for equal or timely pay. If only we could get the equal amount of respect as our male colleague… maybe it will be better for the next generation,” Geeta quips, as she searches for her phone to make a quick call to her children, right before the end of her rather short recess.

— Vedant Chandel