Domestic help from containment zones can’t be allowed in residential societies, guidelines in 2 days: Dist collectorate

The residential societies, Ram said, can install polioxymeters and thermal scanners, besides providing sanitisers at the entrances. "Rather than asking for medical certificates, societies should take precautions for those coming for non-containment zones," he said.

“In Salisbury Park area, 90 per cent of domestic help come from containment zones,” a resident said.(Express Photo)

District Collector Naval Kishore Ram on Tuesday said guidelines will be issued by the administration in the next two days so that local residents no longer have doubts about rules vis-a-vis containment zones, non-containment zones and quarantine period.

“I have already said that housing societies should not make their own rules on allowing outsiders, including domestic help, into their premises. In city areas, this is the job of the civic bodies and cantonment boards. The central and state governments have clearly spelled out the norms for societies. Since we are still receiving complaints, we have decided to issue guidelines in the next two days and expect residential societies to go through them carefully and abide by them,” said Ram, who is also the chairman of the District Disaster Management Authority.

“The rules are clear in this connection. Domestic help from containment zones can’t be allowed into residential society premises. But residential societies also have no right to ask for medical certificates from domestic help who come from non-containment zones,” he said.

The residential societies, Ram said, can install polioxymeters and thermal scanners, besides providing sanitisers at the entrances. “Rather than asking for medical certificates, societies should take precautions for those coming for non-containment zones,” he said.

The district collector said the quarantine period for those who come from outside the district and the state has to be decided by the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal corporations. “The job of the societies is to inform their respective civic bodies that a certain member or members have come from outside the district or the state. Accordingly, the civic health officials will register their names and carry out the required procedure. They will also issue the necessary instructions,” he said.

Pune Police Commissioner K Venkatesham said,”It is common sense that domestic help coming from containment zones should not be allowed. Only those from non-containment zones should be allowed. But at the same time, it is true that no guidelines have been issued in this connection.”

Citing the case of a housing complex in Bibwewadi, he said,”This particular society had maximum number of Covid-19 cases, but now has no positive case. It has been possible because of the initiative of the society members and the PMC officials”.

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Sanjay Pawar, a resident of Salisbury Park in PMC limits, said there was confusion among housing societies. “In Salisbury Park area, 90 per cent of domestic help come from containment zones. The societies or flat owners do not know about the rules… there is no clarity from the district authorities on this count, which has further fuelled the confusion…,” he said.

Rahul Dhankude, a resident of Bhusari Colony, Kothrud, said, “In our area, there are no rules for allowing or disallowing maids. Each flat owner is free to take his/her own decision. I am not sure whether they know from which zones the maids are coming. In Bhusari Colony, domestic helps come from Kelewadi area, which is a containment zone.”

PCMC Additional Municipal Commissioner Santosh Patil said the civic body has not issued any guidelines for residential societies. “If the collectorate issues such guidelines, it will certainly clear doubts among society members and create awareness,” he said.

Manoj Dattatrye More

Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis. Professional Legacy Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles. Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change. Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities. Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees. Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area: 1. Political Shifts & Alliances "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala. "BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls. "Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections. "NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections. 2. Civic & Administrative Accountability "PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions. "93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads. 3. Social & Labor Issues "As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra. "Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse. Signature Beat Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport. X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read More

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