Southern States - Tamil Nadu-Chennai   

ICCW rescues child worker from Koyambedu house

By Ramya Kannan

Chennai Feb. 18 . Despite Central government regulations that ban the employment of children as domestic labour in the houses of government servants, a recent incident in Chennai has proved beyond doubt that the rules are being flouted flagrantly.

Seven-year-old Ratna (name changed) was rescued from the home of an RBI officer residing in the SAF Games Village, Koyambedu, last Sunday, with bruises and scars all over her person. Following a call from an area resident who was perturbed by the treatment of the child, employed as a domestic help in the house of the RBI officer, Child Line volunteers attatched to ICCW rushed to the house to rescue Ratna.

Speaking only Hindi, Ratna hesitantly describes her torture over the last four months, when she was brought to Chennai, from Patna, hired as house help. She talks of how her employers beat her up regularly and to top up punishment, pierced her finger ends with needles. The tell-tale scars on her body validate her complaints. Though she made a successful attempt to escape from the house earlier, she was hunted down and brought back, only to be abused more than ever.

Complaints have been filed with the All Women's Police Station, Anna Nagar and at the Koyambedu police station against the employers. Cases have been filed under IPC and Section 23 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2000.

Ratna is now under the protection of the ICCW and her parents, Sanjay and Babli, who were intimated about the incident are on their way to Chennai, according to police sources.

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