From Classrooms to Residence Halls: How Housekeeping Team Maintains Excellence

When you stroll through the pristine campus of Ashoka University, it’s easy to take for granted the clean classrooms, tidy dormitories, and immaculate common areas. But behind this spotless facade is a dedicated team working tirelessly to maintain 1.5 million square feet of built-up area every single day.

The Team and Their Division

The housekeeping department consists of 179 staff members, with manpower and pantry services provided by Quess Corp. Under the supervision of Kamaldeep Singh (Senior Manager- Housekeeping), Anu Chaudhary (Senior Executive) and Dibendu Dey (Director – Campus Operations), the team ensures the campus remains clean and comfortable. The services are divided into two main categories: housekeeping and pantry services. Out of the 179 staff members, 15 are dedicated pantry boys. The team also includes 60 female staff members who primarily handle female washrooms and hostels, ensuring these areas are meticulously maintained. This gender-based allocation ensures that privacy and cleanliness are both upheld in sensitive areas.

Daily Responsibilities

The housekeeping department’s tasks are vast and varied, covering every corner of the campus:

Classroom Cleanliness: Cleaning the classrooms is an overnight task, starting from 10 PM until 3 AM. This ensures that every student walks into a clean and conducive learning environment each morning.

Residence Halls and Common Areas: Room services for residence halls are handled daily. Common areas, including entrances and the 1.6 km outer road, are cleaned thrice daily to maintain a welcoming environment for everyone.

Dining Areas and Washrooms: High-traffic areas like dining halls and washrooms receive extra attention due to their heavy use throughout the day. The team ensures these areas are cleaned regularly to maintain hygiene standards.

Pantry Services and Training

The pantry staff is responsible for food service, and they undergo regular training to ensure high standards of service. This includes learning the best practices for handling and serving food, maintaining hygiene, and providing excellent customer service.

Sustainability Efforts

Ashoka University’s housekeeping department is deeply committed to sustainability. The team uses biodegradable and animal-friendly chemicals, ensuring that their cleaning practices do not harm the environment. These chemicals come in pouches to reduce plastic waste and are used in precise quantities to minimise wastage.

Additionally, the department has implemented effective waste segregation practices. Wet and dry garbage bins are placed in all flats, and staff members collect and segregate waste accordingly.

The dry garbage goes to the dry garbage area while the wet garbage is processed in a compost machine housed inside the campus, further promoting recycling and sustainability.

Partnership with Pad Care

One notable sustainability initiative is the partnership with PadCare, a company that had its inception at Ashoka. The company collects sanitary waste and recycles it into useful items like notebooks, diaries and planters. This partnership began when PadCare, which is operating out of Mumbai, established a plant in Gurgaon, allowing for a local and environmentally friendly recycling process. This initiative reduces the carbon footprint and promotes recycling within the university.

Overall, the department plays a crucial role in ensuring the campus’s hygiene and cleanliness. The team’s dedication and hard work ensure that students, staff, and visitors can enjoy a clean, comfortable, and eco-friendly environment.