Ghansoli, Navi Mumbai:
Ruksana sips on a bottle of Coke, slowly, wincing occasionally. Herfingers are broken. Her head, legs and back are badly bruised. Herleft ear has been cut with a knife. This is what an 11-year-old hasearned after 3 months as a domestic worker.
''They hit here. They cut me with a knife. They wounded my leg,'' says Ruksana.
Born to a family of beggars, who live in a Navi Mumbai slum, Ruksanawas hired as a maid by a young couple who lives in a housing societynearby. They expected Ruksana to do the daily chores. If she didn'tmove as fast as they expected, she was hit. For three months, she waskept prisoner, not allowed to go home, not paid any salary.
Ruksana's parents allege that they finally showed up unannounced tomeet her. Their daughter's employers gave them a hundred rupees andafter a brief meeting with Ruksana, they were asked to leave.
''They said if I complain to my parents, they would hit me after theyleft. I was scared and did not complain, '' shares Ruksana.
The couple's neighbours complained to an NGO, which finally rescuedher. Ruksana's employers were at home with her when a social workerarrived at their house. But because she didn't have a police escort,the couple was not arrested. The social worker left the house ofhorrors with Ruksana. Now, the couple is missing.
Despite strict laws against child labour, nearly 50,000 children work as live-in domestic helpers across Mumbai.
''They hit here. They cut me with a knife. They wounded my leg,'' says Ruksana.
Born to a family of beggars, who live in a Navi Mumbai slum, Ruksanawas hired as a maid by a young couple who lives in a housing societynearby. They expected Ruksana to do the daily chores. If she didn'tmove as fast as they expected, she was hit. For three months, she waskept prisoner, not allowed to go home, not paid any salary.
Ruksana's parents allege that they finally showed up unannounced tomeet her. Their daughter's employers gave them a hundred rupees andafter a brief meeting with Ruksana, they were asked to leave.
''They said if I complain to my parents, they would hit me after theyleft. I was scared and did not complain, '' shares Ruksana.
The couple's neighbours complained to an NGO, which finally rescuedher. Ruksana's employers were at home with her when a social workerarrived at their house. But because she didn't have a police escort,the couple was not arrested. The social worker left the house ofhorrors with Ruksana. Now, the couple is missing.
Despite strict laws against child labour, nearly 50,000 children work as live-in domestic helpers across Mumbai.
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