Rashmi, age 17, is from Teklapada village in West Bengal, India. She was working as a domestic worker from the age of 8 in Athelbadi, West Bengal. After three years (probably in 2007) the employers took her to Patna Bihar. From then onward, she was neither allowed to talk to her parents, nor meet them. She used to do all kinds of household chores, like cooking, cleaning vessels, washing clothes, taking care of the children etc. When the employers called, she had to be there, if not, they used to beat her. One of her teeth is even broken. In spite of her hard work, they used to abuse her physically, verbally and mentally. She was confined to the house for so many long years that she wanted to go home very badly.
In August 2014, she met a domestic worker working in the same apartment, who was affiliated to NDWM Bihar. She encouraged Rashmi to escape and put her in touch with NDWM. On 21st September early in the morning, Rashmi reached the office. The NDWM staff took the case to the Inspector General of Weaker Section, Bihar who directed the case to SC/ST Police, which contacted the employers. After five days of discussion and pressure, the employer agreed to pay half of her total salary and eventually, she received 150,000INR or nearly 2.000EUR. The employers also revealed the identity of the agent who had placed Rashmi and thus she could get back in touch with her mother. The people from Rashmi's village thought that she had died, but today, Rashmi is back home with her mother, happy with her family and relatives.
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| Rally organized by NDWM against Child Labour |
Through National Domestic Workers' Movement, India
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