Horrid tale of child labour told in fine print
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 29: Inspite of the efforts being made by the Government to stop child labour and trafficking through enactment of various legislations, some unscrupulous persons in the society have been indulging in trafficking of innocent children and forcing them to work as domestic help for some monetary gain.

After six long years of suffering, 16-year old Pinky ran out from the house of her master at Wangkhei Ningthem Pukhri Mapal here last night with the intention of ending her own life.

Fortunately, she was saved by the womenfolk of the locality who came know of her intention.

A child domestic help narrates her ordeal to all

Pinky, daughter of Laishram Nando and Laishram Ongbi Shanti of Heirok Part-II in Thoubal district, came to the house of the contractor at Wangkhei Ningthem Pukhri Mapal to work as a domestic help when she was around 10 years of age.

Wife of the contractor is said to be a Government employee.

Talking to mediapersons in connection with the last night's incident at the office of the Nupi Khunai Chaokhat Kanglup located at Wangkhei Ningthem Pukhri Mapal this afternoon, Pinky narrated how she came to the house of the contractor and how she had spend her life for the last six years.

'Last night Ima and Pabung (the house-owner and his wife) beat me up so badly and I was told to go away from their house.

But I did not know the way nor have any money.

As I have nowhere else to go, I decided to end my life and waited for the light to go off.

At around 9 pm, I came out of the house finally, but the local Imas stopped me'.

About the last night's incident, Pinky said one of the sons of her house master who is about 9 years of age and another boy, a son of the sister of her house master's wife took Rs 10 from the house master to buy some eatables.

However, with the money, the two boys insisted her to go and buy cigarette along with them.

So she went along with the boys to get the cigarette.

On returning home, the two boys smoked the cigarette in a corner of the house and later handed over the cigarette butt to her to throw away.

While holding the cigarette butt in her hand, the house master and his wife saw her and then started beating her up mercilessly scolding why she was encouraging the young boys to smoke. 'All these years, I have endured everything even if they struck me with the broom or threw dirty water of mopping the floor on me.

But I could do nothing', Pinky said.

About his parents, Pinky said although her father ran a hotel, he was a habitual drinker and did not bring any income to the family.

As a result, her parents always fought in the family.

After her father married another woman, her mother came back along with her to stay at her maternal uncle's house.

After some time, her mother also eloped with another man.

Subsequently, her aunty brought her to house of the contractor.

At the time of bringing her to the house of the contractor, her aunty assured that she would be educated and taken proper care of all her needs just like one of the family members.

Pinky felt that her aunty might have taken money from the contractor as 'price' for her.

While staying at Heirok, Pinky had studied till class III at Learners' English School.

But before giving her final year examination, she came to the house of the contractor and started working as a domestic help, thus all her hopes of continuing education vanished.

She was not allowed to go out of the house, and till date, Pinky informed, she had been to the market place only twice.

With tears in her eyes, Pinky said, 'I would not be able to go back to the house of Pabung and I do not want to go back to Heirok as there is no one whom I can call as my own'.

In connection with the incident, Advisor of Maharaj Garibaniwas Memorial Club Kongbam Joychandra who was also present during the press conference, observed that employing young boys and girls as domestic helpers or in other work places is a crime.

So every efforts should be made to uproot this evil from the society, he called upon the people.