The idealistic announcement by Union Health Minister Dr Anbumani Ramdoss that the permission of one’s maid must be sought to have a fag inside one’s house sounded quite novel as well as amusing.  An interaction with domestic workers and smokers across the City by Metrolife revealed that the measure, set to be enforced within four months, will look good only on paper. 
The house might be the workspot for the maid but it also happens to be one’s private corner. A clear indication of the refusal to compromise inside one’s home was sounded by Lokesh, who resides at J P Nagar.  “My wife allows me to smoke inside my house. Why will I ever ask a maid permission for it?,” he remarked rather contemptuously.
The responses from the maids did reveal their low sense of self-esteem as well as the prevailing reality for this unorganised workforce. Rosy, who works as a maid at a posh apartment in Tilak Nagar’s L S Colony, said, “Our employers are rich people. We are mere coolies for them. If we dare to protest against their smoking, we might be replaced by some other domestic help. As it is, there is much competition for these jobs and it would be easy for them to find someone willing to work for a lesser pay.” Jyoti hails from the same place and works at Vinayaka Apartments in Swagath Main Road. She is  of the opinion that no employee would ever pay heed to a maid’s words. 
Uma, who works as a domestic help at IInd Stage, Indiranagar.  “I remember getting an awful smell in one of the houses I worked earlier and questioned my employer about it. He asked to me to switch on the fan so that the smoke goes away or if that did not satisfy me I was free to look out for a  job elsewhere.”  Malliga, employed at `Salakhpur Apartments’ in Cambridge Layout says, “No chance of employers taking our permission. How will they ask us?”
Rani, who lives in her slum, remarked: “Even now, the men in the house I work take efforts to smoke only when I  am not around to protect their image. So, there is no need for me to object.”  The lone voice that stood out was that of Anarkali of Jayanagar’s  Corporation Colony. “If a law is introduced against it, I will protest when my employer smokes in my presence” she said. 
Thomas, employed in a plywood company at Bommanahalli, said, “I generally do not smoke inside the house as I feel it is harmful to my children.  If law insists the permission of my maid has to be sought to smoke inside the house, then I will do it.”  Abraham George, a market analyst at Reuters, says “I am not a regular smoker. It is perfectly alright if a legislation curbing smoking is introduced. If my maid has any objection to my smoking inside my house, I will go to the terrace or the balcony and smoke so that it does not bother her.”