Mumbai: There is growing anger in Mumbai over the alleged abuse of a 10-year-old-girl employed as domestic help by a TV actor. The girl was rescued last week by neighbours.
"She had burn marks on her hands, in specific areas. How can anyone believe this was an accident?" Worried debate inside a lift.
This is the Andheri colony where a TV actor was arrested for allegedly torturing Rajeshwari, her 10-year-old domestic help. On Saturday, the child was rescued when neighbours heard her screams.
The actor, Urvashi Dhanorkar, is out on bail. She hired Rameshwari, the daughter of a poor Amravati farmer, to take care of her children.
Rameshwari's age makes her employer guilty of using child labour. Urvashi had promised to give Rajeshwari food, shelter, and education. Instead, she was beaten mercilessly, and barely fed.
The 10-year-old is at a remand home outside Mumbai. "She is not speaking to anyone. She is very frightened. We are trying to find out more about the abuse she suffered so that we can file a fresh FIR," says activist Santosh Shinde.
Rameshwari's parents have left their village to collect their daughter. Her grandmother shares a story of rural distress, one that in urban India becomes mute and helpless: "Our financial condition is very poor. We had no choice but to send her to work."
In homes like this, there is a resignation that Rameshwari's story will have several sequels.