Gurugram, Jun 12 (IANS): With spike in the COVID cases in Gurugram, the reverse migration of Bengali labourers will further raise concerns for residents living in upscale residential complexes and societies as the residents will face shortage of maid and domestic help in days to come.

More than 20,000 Bengali people, majority of them are daily wage labourers and their wives who work as domestic help in upscale residential societies and condominiums, live in the slums in South City 1 in New Gurugram.

Zeenat Ali, a domestic help of Ivory apartment said: "We don't have a job from last three months and now the situation is even getting worse as we have to struggle for daily livelihood. We are just waiting for the situation to get better."

Another maid Rabia Khatoon said: "I work in four flats of an apartment in sector 31. Until a fortnight ago, I was allowed to enter the society after thermal screening and hand sanitisation but now the entry is completely restricted since June 1."

"We are living here for over 17 years and running small grocery store. Since, majority of our community people are jobless and they do not have buying capacity, people like me are suffering loss. Situation got even worse after my wife lost her job as a made 10 days ago," Phokan Mohanto, a shop owner.

Besides South City 1, Bengali people also live in sector 48, 56, 58 and Dwarka expressway.

Manish Shandilya, the convener of 80 RWAs in Gurugram said: "The restriction for the movements of maid or drivers are applied only in the condominiums which fall under containment zones while the district administration as well as respective RWAs have allowed their movements in other zones."