While homes were filled with light and joy during Diwali, a young girl in a house in Shaheen Bagh, South Delhi, was allegedly enduring physical and mental torture for the past year. At an age when she should have had books and notebooks in her hands, she was instead forced to perform domestic chores from 6:00 AM until 2:00 AM. Saira (a pseudonym), 16, was employed for domestic work, only to be subjected to physical abuse. She was burned with a hot iron and a knife, left to go hungry for days on end, and denied any contact with her parents. She was rescued following a complaint filed by the ‘Association for Voluntary Action.’ Her body bore numerous signs of injury. Acting on the directives of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), she has been admitted to AIIMS.
The case came to light when the ‘Association for Voluntary Action’—a partner of ‘Just Rights for Children,’ the country’s largest network of civil society organizations dedicated to protecting child rights—received a complaint regarding the girl. Saira, a minor, had been working as a domestic help in a Shaheen Bagh household for about a year, during which time she was prevented from seeing her parents.
Following the complaint, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Kalkaji was informed. Subsequently, on November 3, 2024, a team comprising officials from the Labour Department and the Shaheen Bagh police station was constituted by the SDM’s office. When the team raided the house, Saira was not found; the homeowner had reportedly sent her to Moradabad. It was claimed that Saira had been tasked with caring for the homeowner’s elderly mother and that she would be produced the following day. Saira was eventually brought before the SDM’s office, where her statement was recorded. Orders were issued to initiate action under the laws concerning child labour and the Juvenile Justice Act. A medical examination of Saira has also been conducted. The following day, the police recorded Saira’s statement before a magistrate under Section 183 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and presented her before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC).
Dhananjay Tingal, National Coordinator of the Association for Voluntary Action, stated, “This case exposes the grim and hidden reality of domestic child labor, where children from impoverished families are lured into domestic work with false promises of a better future and an education. Once separated from their families, these children often fall victim to exploitation and violence, their suffering remaining entirely unseen. The brutality inflicted upon this young girl is deeply distressing. However, thanks to the prompt action taken by the police, the administration, and the CWC, she was rescued from this inhumane ordeal. This intervention is commendable.”
- Numerous Wounds and Scars on Her Body
The account Saira shared with the CWC is harrowing. According to her statement, her back, arms, and hips were repeatedly burned with a heated iron. She was also assaulted with a heated knife. Her body bears numerous wounds and scars from past injuries; her entire back is covered in burn marks, and she has several deep wounds on her head. Her face also shows signs of having been scratched or clawed. Saira recounted that she was kept without food or even water for three consecutive days. Her employer—referred to as ‘Madam’—would assault her for the slightest mistake. Whenever she sustained injuries, instead of being taken to a doctor, she was merely given medicines purchased from a local pharmacy.
- Injuries Concealed from Her Parents
Saira was kept isolated from her parents. Whenever they requested to speak with their daughter, the woman would offer various excuses. Over the course of an entire year, she was allowed to speak with them over the phone only two or three times. During that period, Saira’s face was kept covered so that her parents would not see the injuries on it. When she was taken to the SDM’s office to provide a statement, she was too terrified to speak. She had been threatened that if she told anyone, she would be killed, stuffed into a sack, and discarded—without anyone ever finding out. However, before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Saira spoke openly. As she recounted her suffering, she broke down in tears.
Taking the situation very seriously, the CWC directed that she be admitted to AIIMS. The committee remarked that it was hard to believe the child had even survived such intense abuse. The team from the ‘Association for Voluntary Action’ played a crucial role in the case—from securing the child’s rescue to facilitating the necessary administrative and legal actions. The CWC also commended the organization’s efforts.
- Fed only leftovers
Saira revealed that she was made to work continuously from 6:00 AM until 2:00 AM. Her tasks included sweeping, mopping, washing dishes, and general cleaning. She was given tea around 11:00 AM, and for meals, she was mostly provided with leftovers. For a full year of labor, she was paid a mere 18,000 rupees. Saira had been placed in the job through another woman.
- Wants to study; dreams of becoming a teacher
Despite enduring such severe abuse, Saira still harbors a desire to move forward and fulfill her dreams. She told the CWC that she wants the woman who abused her to receive the strictest possible punishment. She also expressed her wish to pursue an education and grow up to become a teacher.