Defence Colony, New Delhi. Family which had tested corona positive hires new ful time domestic worker. Soon enough, she also tests positive. Last night, they threw her out of the house, just like that. She sat on the road, distressed and crying. 1/x

Soon enough, a small crowd gathered around her- guards, some other workers. Many passerbys stopped and advised calm etc. All of them were within her physical proximity. Cops were called, refused to help. 102 ambulance was called, refused to help. 2/x

SDM was called, told the woman to go home, and that “we will deal with this tomorrow” 2 issues here. 1, the insanity and cruelty of the family who turned her out- even though they wre all she had here, even though they are now probably immune, and exposed so many others. 3/c

4/x Second, the colossal stupidity and negligence of all authorities who should have begun contact tracing last night itself and because of whom the infections from that area will now probably snowball. Catastrophe which could have been avoided.

5/x I called up @abhinandita_m at 1 am last night and she very kindly not only took my call but also assured that the govt will do all it can. I don’t have an update after this. Can only hope it has been taken care of.

6/x the poor woman was on the road for HOURS. HOURS during which the family ignored her pleas for help and to be let in. HOURS in which she kept asking “mujhe nikaal kyun diya hai”.
HOURS in which countless- mostly also workers met her consoled her and are probably infected now

I have been thinking about the phrase “class solidarity” since last night. The poor comforted her and one of them finally took her home. The rich, abandoned her and no one in the ‘posh’ society gave a flying F. 7/x