Noida: Mob violence at Mahagun Moderne exposes deep class fault lines

Mahagun Moderne in Noida’s Sector 78 is like any other gated community – paved roads, pristine lawns, round-the-clock security and battery-operated carts to travel within the condominium. Barola, where most of the workers, including domestic helps employed by the residents live, is a nondescript rundown village just one kilometre away.

The contrast between the two areas and the palpable class divide that exist there are symbolic of most posh neighbourhoods in developing cities like Noida.

Much before 2015, when the residents started moving in to their swanky apartments, the domestic helps of the present day were there – then they were working as daily wage workers who helped build the towering high-rises.

Zora Bibi, 26, who was allegedly beaten up by her employer , leading to protests by her villagers on Wednesday, was one of the 500 domestic helps working in the society. She earned a meagre Rs 6,000 for doing household chores for her employer twice a day.