Two women and a girl rescued from forced labor in Valasaravakkam

Two women and a girl were rescued from forced labor from a house in Valasaravakkam in Chennai on Monday.

According to police, the victims, two of them in their 20s and a girl aged 17, were sent to Rashida’s house to work as domestic servants. Rashida reportedly paid small amounts to her parents when they were in difficulty, causing their debt to increase to around Rs 3 lakh. Unable to pay off their debt to Rashida, the girls were sent to work in Rashida’s house about six years ago. Two of them were from Andhra Pradesh and the third was from Thami Nadu.

The girls have to do housework, and when it was not done or was unsatisfactory, the owners of the house tortured them. “The girls tried to escape several times, but the family of the accused threatened them that cases would be filed against them. Additionally, when they spoke with their parents weekly, the parents requested that their children be sent home and the debt be paid off through other means. The accused threatened to impose heavy interest due to which they would not be able to pay it,” said a child rights activist involved in the rescue operations.

The district’s child helpline received a call regarding harassment, and the district’s child protection office, the Department of Labor and volunteers conducted an investigation. Three women were rescued and are now undergoing medical examination. The police arrested Rashida. “Though the accused claimed to be paid a salary of Rs 3,000-4,000, the victims have not received anything like that in the last few months. A case of child trafficking is also being investigated,” the activist said.

M. Rajkumar, Chairman, Child Welfare Committee, Chennai, said, “The women have been rescued and the Child Welfare Committee is providing them with necessary assistance and protection. Moreover, if they require education and stay, that will also be arranged.”