Why Many People Prefer Living in India Rather Than Abroad : The Advantage of Domestic Support:
Lokanath Mishra
In recent decades, millions of Indians have migrated to different parts of the world in search of better educational, professional, and economic opportunities. Yet, it is also true that many people who have experienced life abroad eventually choose to return to India or prefer to spend their later years here. While family ties, culture, climate, and social connections are important reasons, one practical factor often overlooked is the availability of affordable domestic assistance.
In India, middle-class families can often employ household workers who help with cooking, cleaning, childcare, elder care, gardening, and numerous other daily responsibilities. This support significantly reduces the burden of household management and allows family members to focus on their careers, education, and personal interests.
Consider the example of Sunita, a household helper living in Hyderabad, who has been working with the same family for the last five years. She occupies a separate room on the terrace and begins her day at six o’clock in the morning. Her duties start with cleaning the kitchen and preparing breakfast and lunch for the family’s child. She then accompanies the child to the school bus stop and returns to prepare separate breakfasts and lunches for the husband and wife, each according to their individual food preferences.
After the family members leave for their daily activities, she washes the morning utensils, dusts the furniture, sweeps and mops the floors, and assists with laundry by hanging washed clothes out to dry. Following a short break and bath, she prepares lunch and serves it to the family. Once the afternoon chores are completed, she takes some time to rest.
In the evening, she returns to work, bringing in the dried clothes, preparing tea and snacks, and then cooking dinner, often consisting of separate vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. After serving dinner and cleaning the utensils, her workday concludes around ten o’clock at night.
Her responsibilities extend beyond ordinary household work. During school vacations or occasions when the parents travel without their child, she assists in caring for both the child and the family dog. Living within a joint family environment, she works alongside other family members to ensure that the household functions smoothly.
Her contributions are particularly valuable during festivals such as the Hindu festival of Durga Puja. She helps with extensive cleaning and preparations, for which she receives additional compensation and gifts, including new sarees. She also takes pride in maintaining the family’s terrace garden and enjoys spending time with their pet dog.
In return, the family provides accommodation, meals, and a monthly salary of ₹12,000. She is also granted regular leave, typically five continuous days every two months, enabling her to visit her village and maintain ties with her own family. Over the years, she has become much more than an employee; she has become a trusted and valued part of the household.
This example highlights an important aspect of Indian society. Domestic workers not only perform physical tasks but often become trusted members of the household. Their presence enables working parents to balance professional and family responsibilities, provides care for children and elderly family members, and contributes to a more organized and less stressful lifestyle.
In many Western countries, however, domestic help is considerably more expensive. Household members are generally expected to manage cooking, cleaning, childcare, laundry, and maintenance themselves. Hiring full-time domestic assistance is often affordable only for the wealthy. As a result, many professionals abroad spend significant portions of their evenings and weekends performing household chores.
This difference in lifestyle explains why some individuals, despite enjoying higher incomes overseas, still appreciate the convenience and support available in India. The availability of domestic assistance allows families to devote more time to their careers, education, social activities, and personal well-being.
Nevertheless, it is important to recognize that domestic workers deserve fair wages, humane working conditions, respect, and opportunities for personal growth. Their contribution to household stability and social functioning is immense and should be acknowledged with dignity and gratitude.
India’s domestic support system remains one of the unique features of its social and economic structure. For many families, it is not merely a matter of convenience but an essential factor that enhances quality of life. As society progresses, the challenge lies in ensuring that this system continues to benefit both employers and workers through mutual respect, fairness, and human dignity.