'Swiggy, Zomato Not Allowed In Lift': Reddit Decodes Absurd Rule In Housing Societies

Discrimination against house helps, delivery drivers, sanitation workers, cleaners, and waste pickers isn’t unheard of in India. But what if it becomes the norm? A problematic poster allegedly put up by

a hotel has enraged people on Reddit. “Note: Swiggy & Zomato not allowed in lift. Please use stairs. Thank you,” was allegedly put up by Golden Gate Hitech hotel in Hyderabad. Angered and puzzled by the insensitive notice, a user on Reddit asked the community to explain why such posters existed in the first place.

It wasn’t long before the photo sparked a conversation among the community, who exhibited objections to the discriminatory notice, expressing their deep concern for the delivery drivers who worked long hours and then were subjected to this.

Viral Reddit Post

Why were societies, offices, and hotels treating delivery drivers in this manner? A question that was posed by one and many.

“Oh man this is so hard on the boys. Some of them, especially Amazon etc have a big load to carry. They can’t leave it on their bike because someone may steal stuff. So they carry this huge load on their back. And they are supposed to climb stairs? Pathetic from this society, (sic)” wrote one responding to the notice.

“This is straight away violation of their fundamental rights :(”

“Classism. Indian society reeks of classism.”

Can I know whyyy ??? And what do you guys think ?
byu/Humptydumptyo_o inhyderabad

Troubling Pattern

Reacting to the poster, another user joined the dialogue and wrote: “There’s a new caste system taking shape. Delivery boys, security guards, etc. are at the bottom of the tier list.”

This, unfortunately, is not an isolated incident. Far from it.

“If maids, drivers and delivery boys use main lifts Rs 300 will be fined”

Also Read: ‘Sick Society’: Delivery Guy Being Asked Not to Share Lift With Residents Sparks Outrage

A housing society in Hyderabad caught itself in a social media storm after allegedly posting a notice imposing a Rs 300 fine on “maids, drivers, and delivery boys” for using the main elevators.

Understandably, the poster irked users on X to no limit.

“Yikes. So they can come into your houses and touch the dishes u cook & clothes you wear… they can bring the food you eat.. they can sit beside u in car but cannot get in the “main” lift? Mask up…Why do they have to use service elevator?Its not like they carry huge loads with them, (sic)” rued one.

Cyberabad, 2022. pic.twitter.com/4XrldTlEel

— Harsha Vadlamani (@Hrsha) January 12, 2022

This was in January 2022, a time when Indians were heavily reliant on delivery services as the country reeled with Covid-19 lockdowns and restrictions imposed.

“Life Ka Prayog Na Kare”

In another incident, a housing society restricted delivery drivers’ access to the elevator, stating that it was reserved exclusively for residents of the building.

“Building mein rehne walon ke alawa koi bhi lift ka prayog na kare. Jaise ki Swiggy, Zomato, Saman delivery waale”

No Caption. pic.twitter.com/T1I9JGXdYN

— Awanish Sharan 🇮🇳 (@AwanishSharan) November 22, 2022

Use Service Lift Only

Earlier this year, a Gurugram society made headlines for similar discrimination against delivery workers and domestic help, instructing them to use only the “service lift”.

“All domestic help and delivery staff, please use the service lift only,” the poster read.

“What society are we living in? We don’t mind our food being carried by people we are not willing to share lifts with. Please don’t tell me that the ones who ordered food are not the ones who stopped him. We discriminate constantly. We are a sick society,” Makarand, who shared the photo, wrote.

Makarand added that he was getting into the lift at his apartment building when a delivery guy came along, but he didn’t enter the lift. When asked, the delivery guy said that in the previous building, he was asked not to share the lift with a resident.

No Honour

Several expressed that the horrible treatment towards the workers and delivery personnel stemmed from deep-rooted classism, as the “rules” were only extended to them, but guests and visitors, who were up on the ladder of pay scale, moved about restriction-free.

One user on the now-viral Reddit post played the devil’s advocate, stating that the increased volume of deliveries leading to elevator usage may have contributed to the hotel’s electricity bills.