Behind the closed doors
By Saleem • Jul 15th, 2008 • Category: Misc • (3,779 views) • 26 CommentsThe story that appeared recently of a ten-year-old maid in Lahore, who had been beaten so severely by her employers that visible scars were left on her body, is enough to give anyone sleepless nights. The child, rescued by the Child Welfare Protection Bureau (CWPB) officials, apparently after a tip-off from neighbours, stated she was beaten with rods or pipes, permitted to sleep barely four hours each night and punished by having boiling water thrown on her. She said all members of the family participated in this terrible game of torture. The girl was forced to work as her father had died. She was paid around Rs200 rupees a month for her day-long labours – and provided what amounted to mere scraps of food.
The maid is, in this case, fortunate to be rescued. A case has been registered against the head of the household. Yet it is known that in many households, domestic servants are treated with disdain and sometimes similar cruelty – particularly in the case of children unable to defend themselves. No labour laws apply to domestic workers and groups investigating their plight have noted the majority of female domestic workers face sexual harassment. There is clearly a need for intervention on an urgent basis. The CWPB is said to be working with UNICEF to devise a law that would lay down rules regarding working hours for domestic help and try and regulate conditions within the sector. This is an effort the government must facilitate and expedite, to save other employees the brutality that so often takes place behind the closed doors of homes across our country.
(Reference: Dawn news.)
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July 17th, 2008
This story highlights the blight that’s afflicted Pakistan. Our nation has lost its compassion, and its soul. Charity is not something we do under religious compulsion one month a year, it should be some thing we employ in our daily lives. This child is just one of hundreds of thousands who are nothing more than slaves. I have never understood why abusing dometsics makes bored lazy housewifes feel powerful. domestics need more than just empty decrees and laws to help them but real enforement of those laws.
My parents used to tell me not to give to the beggar children that it only encourages them. I followed that advice till I got to know ones circumstance, it wretched and heart breaking so now I give it may not be millions but every bit helps.
July 16th, 2008
Ok, this is the first time I am on this site. A very informative site indeed.
As for this post, this is horrible thing that had been happening.( eg. child labour, abuse…etc ) sometimes it just show how scary humans are capable of. Like what one of you said, it is not so much about lack of education or social awareness but I think the human heart had been corrupted or something.
July 16th, 2008
Surefire compliment, respectable Talha.
July 16th, 2008
Zartaj Jehan
I guess I will have to take it as a compliment. Correct me if I am wrong
Regards.
July 16th, 2008
The political aspect highlighted by Talha seems far-fetched at first glance, but then more you swivel his idea in your mind, the more it appeals.
July 16th, 2008
Quite a point has been raised here……However what could be the reasons for such immoral/inhuamne acts?????//
It is not lack of education or social awareness….for mostly the culprits of these crimes are quite well off educated people. And why is that the servants tend to go on working for them ( even if forced to do so … one can run away at the slightest of opportunity).
It is because usually the culprits are those well off people who have given loans to these poor chaps and think they own their lineage until loan is repaid. Or for they consider that these “mizaraas” ( in most cases they are the bonded labour ) are traditionally their slave.
What can bew done to deal with these issues?????? Gramene bank of Bangladesh is an example which frees one of these insolent bastards (the filthy rich guys) for the poor take the loan from the bank and return it without an interest rate when ever they could and 97% money is returned indeed for the poor are not those who run off with the money it is the trait of the hungry wealthier asses.
Another aspect is political.
Usually the culprits have quite a social standing ie are influnetial and cases cant be registered against them. Or even if done the plantiff usually withdraws after getting a beating from the Malik sb or concerned SHO.
We need someone other than the usualy police to deal with these issues. Some department directly inder the Federal Govt. reporting to Governor for according to definition he is the most non partisian person and running at the district levels. And the name of the plantiff to remain sealed until the verdict or till he is produced as an accusser.
It is only this way that we can eradicate this social injustice.
However, It all ends up at the idnependence of Judicary and here I am not refering to just higher Judicary but the Civil Courts and District Courts.
Let us pay those poor fellas well enough that they cant be tempted to go for one side due to any bribe or relationship!!!