Hiring an aya isn’t like hiring a delivery driver or a one-off contractor. This is someone who’ll be alone in your house with your newborn, your recovering parent, or your elderly mother for hours at a stretch. Getting it wrong doesn’t just mean a bad review — it can mean a genuinely unsafe situation.
With nuclear families becoming the norm in Kolkata and both parents or adult children often working full-time, the demand for aya services has grown fast — and so has the number of informal, unverified providers claiming to offer it. Here’s what to actually check before you commit.
Why the Right Aya Centre Matters
An aya isn’t just extra help around the house — she’s responsible for feeding, bathing, mobility support, medication reminders, and moment-to-moment safety for someone who can’t fully advocate for themselves (an infant, a bedridden patient, or an elderly person with mobility or cognitive limits). The gap between a properly vetted aya and an unverified one shows up exactly when it matters most — during an emergency, a fall, or a medical complication.
The 8-Point Checklist
1. Police verification, not just a promise of it. Ask specifically what verification is done — ID proof, address proof, and police verification — and ask to see confirmation it’s been completed, not just a line in a brochure.
2. Registered business, not an informal broker: Look for MSME registration, GST registration, and a Shop & Establishment certificate. A registered agency has accountability; an informal middleman generally doesn’t.
3. Training matched to the care type: Baby care, patient care (especially post-surgery), and elderly care require different skills. Ask whether the aya assigned to you has actually been trained or assessed for your specific situation, not just “caregiving in general.”
4. A real replacement policy: This is the single biggest complaint families have with aya services in Kolkata — an aya takes leave or isn’t a good fit, and the centre is slow or unwilling to send a replacement. Ask upfront: what happens if this placement doesn’t work out?
5. Transparent pricing before you book: Get shift length (10hr/12hr/24hr, live-in vs live-out) and total cost in writing before the aya arrives. Agencies that are vague about pricing upfront tend to add costs later.
6. A trial period: A centre confident in its vetting process will let you start with a short trial before committing to a longer arrangement.
7. References or verifiable reviews: Ask for a reference from a previous placement, or check reviews that mention specific outcomes (was a replacement actually provided when needed? Was the aya on time and reliable?) rather than generic five-star praise.
8. Ongoing support, not a one-time handoff: A good centre stays reachable after placement — for schedule changes, concerns, or if something isn’t working. If you can’t get anyone on the phone after the booking is confirmed, that’s a red flag before you even start.
Red Flags to Watch For
- No willingness to explain their verification process in specific steps
- Reluctance to put pricing in writing before the aya arrives
- No replacement offered, or long delays, when an aya doesn’t work out
- Pressure to book a shorter trial-free arrangement immediately
- No registered business details (MSME/GST/Shop & Establishment) available on request
How Kacher Lok Meets This Checklist
Kacher Lok is MSME-registered, GST-registered, stered, and Shop & Establishment certified. Every aya goes through ID/address verification, police verification, a skills assessment matched to her care type, and a reference check — followed by a trial period on every placement, with a replacement guarantee if it isn’t the right fit. Full details, packages, and coverage areas are on our Aya Service in Kolkata page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get an Aya placed in Kolkata?
This varies by centre and the specific care type needed — ask directly during your first call, and be wary of anyone promising same-day placement with no verification process behind it.
Is a 24-hour live-in aya safer than a 12-hour shift aya?
Neither is inherently “safer” — it depends on the care need. Post-surgery recovery and bedridden patients often need 24-hour coverage; daytime support while family is at work is usually well covered by a 10–12 hour shift.
What’s the difference between an aya centre and hiring independently?
An agency provides verification, a replacement option, and accountability if something goes wrong. Hiring independently through word-of-mouth skips all three.
Ready to hire a verified aya in Kolkata?
See our full Aya Service in Kolkata page or call +91 62913 85823.
