Hyderabad: A 13-year-old girl, who was employed as a domestic held at a retired scientist’s home, was rescued on Friday.
The girl, a native of Rajahmundry, was rescued during a joint operation conducted by the Child Welfare department, the Balala Hakkula Sangham and Revenue and police officials.
Officials said the girl is a Class VI dropout. She was employed at the residence of Mr Raghu Rami Reddy — a retired scientist from the Indian Council for Agricultural Research. Her parents are daily wage labourers in Rajahmundry and she is the eldest among three daughters. She had started working at the house a year ago.
Based on a tip off, officials from the Child Welfare department, AP Balala Hakkula Sangham, Revenue and police departments conducted the raid on Mr Reddy’s residence at Aparna County in Miyapur area.
The girl told officials they had promised to pay Rs 6,000 to her parents every month, but she was not aware whether the amount was being paid regularly. She also expressed joy for being rescued from the conditions her employers had forced her into.
“Despite regular operations and awareness programmes on the child labour issue, there is hardly any change and children are still becoming victims,” said an official who was part of the raid.
AP Balala Hakkula Sangham said that people, despite a financial ability to employ adults were still exploiting children.
“As kids are more vulnerable and work without questions for longer hours, many people continue to employ children. Unless there are stricter punishments, we will not see change,” said AP Balala Hakkula Sangham president, Ms Anuradha Rao.
A case under the provisions of the Revenue Act and Child Labour Prohibition Act has been slapped against the employer and the girl has been moved to a rescue home.
