By CT reporter
MANGALORE : “ I was locked-up and then forced to do domestic work against my wishes. The house owner used to torture me by not even providing food to me. It is owing to this reason that I tried to escape from the house several times.” This was how the minor housemaid Ayisha who recently jumped from the fourth floor of a building in a bid to escape from her employer’s house, revealed her traumatic experience, before the Pandeshwar police in the presence of the Child Welfare Committee authorities.
Ayisha, the eldest daughter of Mohammad and Shaheeda couple of Indiranagar in Sirsi, was initially working as a domestic help in a residence at Byndoor. She had been brought to the residence of businessman Abdul Salam at Casa Grande in Mangalore just a few days ago, prior to her escape bid.
The tale of her family too is pathetic. Ayisha’s father is bedridden and in no position to work and the responsibility of taking care of her two sisters and a brother was on the shoulders of her mother who did coolie work. It was this abject poverty situation at home that forced Shaheeda to send her minor daughter to work as housemaid. Ayisha in her statement before the police has said that a stranger from Bhatkal had dropped her at the Casa Grande apartment just eight days ago, after talks with her mother.
“ The inmates of the Casa Grande apartment were observing fast on account of Ramzan and even I used to fast. However, while the rest used to have a sumptuous food after the fast, I was forced to starve. Whenever I made any request to send me back to Sirsi, the family members used to say I have to stay until they found a new maid. I was locked up in the house that night when the family had been to visit a relative who was admitted to a private hospital,” Ayisha revealed.
Meanwhile, the CWC has instructed the authorities of the Unity hospital where Ayisha is undergoing treatment, to seek its permission before discharging her from hospital. It has also sought details regarding her treatment from the medical officers concerned of the hospital.
Related news:
- Child Labourer rescued from Casa Grande
- Escape bid : Minor housemaid in critical state
- Scarf row : Ayisha quits SVS College
- Pambur quarry raided; child labourer rescued, others escape
- Bantwal College controversy SVS College spokesman Ganesh Prabhu says ‘Ayisha at the centre of controversy by violating the norms’
