14-year-old girl forced to work as domestic help, alleges abuse; rescued

The Delhi Commission for Women, in collaboration with city police, successfully liberated a 14-year-old girl who had been coerced into working as domestic help in Greater Kailash, according to an official statement released on Tuesday.

On a Saturday, the DCW was alerted by Silver Seven, an organization, regarding the distressing situation of a minor girl compelled to serve as domestic help in a residence within Greater Kailash’s southern vicinity. The complaint revealed that the girl was being held against her wishes in a house where she was subjected to both mental and physical abuse.

Following the complaint, the girl was rescued and taken to a police station. She displayed immense fear and trauma and repeatedly implored not to be returned to the same house.

“The girl hails from Giridih district in Jharkhand. Having lost her parents at a young age, she has two brothers and two sisters. Owing to harassment and mistreatment by her brother and sister-in-law, who often subjected her to physical abuse, she fled her home and arrived in Delhi in 2021 with a neighbor,” the statement explained.

During her ordeal, the girl disclosed that the household where she served as domestic help comprised four members. She alleged that the wife of the house owner verbally abused her. Furthermore, the couple falsely claimed that they had purchased her for a significant sum and, therefore, she was not allowed to leave.

Although she attempted to escape by reaching out to her uncle in Jharkhand, the house owner intervened and prevented her from leaving. Subsequently, she confided in a cook who visited the house, and he informed an NGO about her situation.

Authorities have stated that the girl will be presented before the Child Welfare Committee and is currently residing in a shelter home.

Commenting on the case, DCW Chairperson Swati Maliwal emphasized, “We received a distress call about a girl being forcibly confined and subjected to physical abuse. We promptly coordinated with the Delhi police to effect her rescue. However, an official FIR has not yet been registered by the police. We are initiating legal action in this matter. It is deeply disheartening that individuals living in an affluent residence in GK-1 have perpetrated such heinous acts against this girl. Swift arrests are necessary, and the strictest measures must be taken against them.”

(With PTI inputs)