Moving to Delhi: Servants

Salary levels are much lower in India than in the "developed world". Most foreigners posted to India have staff, which might include: a cook, a dhobi (laundryman), an ayah (nanny), a mali (gardener), a driver. How many staff you have will depend on your particular circumstances - a family on a farmhouse might have more than a dozen staff, a single person in an apartment might have none.

The American Women's Association runs "The Servants Registry", which has its own entrance and office in the American Embassy Compound (phone: 611-3033 ext. 2654). You can interview servants on Wednesdays and Fridays, from 9:30AM to noon. Bring your passport for identification to get in. (15-july-98)

If you've never had servants before, it may take some getting used to, both learning how to supervise household staff, getting accustomed to having someone do work for you around the house, getting the work done your way instead of the previous employers (e.g., just because the last employer ate at 6:30 doesn't mean you can't eat at your accustomed 8:30).

A cook is very useful (some say vital!) not just for cooking but also - or, more precisely, in partcular - for grocery shopping, which can take huge amounts of time (no supermarkets!), for sterilizing vegetables, boiling & filtering water. Your cook will also get lower prices than you are likely to (but probably still above prices for locals).

A driver is not, strictly speaking, necessary, but many foreigners find the traffic in Delhi rather daunting (even after several years here). A driver's salary costs far less than a second car, and a driver makes getting to functions (and parking once you're there) much easier -- whether the function is in private residences or in a luxury hotel, parking is often horribly difficult.

If you have children, an ayah (nanny) is the solution to your childcare problems. You can't get babysitters, and even Early Childhood Education Center only covers a half day.

Domestic help is now a call away

Article on servants in Delhi, from the Hindustan Times, 14-july-98

Copyright © 1998 Peter R Bullen. Created: 15-Feb-98. Updates: 30-April-98, 20-May-98, 5-Aug-98, 29-Nov-98.