Rs 2.5 lakh ‘settlement’, but nightmares persist — how ‘tortured’ Assam worker

A year ago, a 23-year-old domestic worker from Assam's Mangaldoi, employed at the home of a senior police officer in Haryana, alleged that she was bound with ropes, had her hair chopped off, and was left without food for several days. Her story made national headlines and sparked outrage. Recently, her family told The Print that she had "moved on," accepted a settlement of Rs 2.5 lakh to withdraw the case, and is now married and settled in Delhi. Despite this, she still experiences headaches and nightmares, according to her mother.

In February 2022, the woman was found on the streets after her employers allegedly threw her out of the house without winter clothing or shoes. She had been working at the home of IPS officer Rajesh Kalia and his wife Manisha in Panchkula at the time. Subsequently, Manisha was booked by the police under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including for wrongful confinement and voluntarily causing hurt. Rajesh Kalia was not booked.

Speaking to The Print, the woman, who had worked at the couple's home from March 2021 to February 2022, described the ways in which she was allegedly "tortured" for not meeting the family's expectations. Her family members, who spoke to The Print on the condition of anonymity, claimed that dropping the case eventually seemed like the best course of action.

The woman's father claimed that her former employers offered them not just a monetary settlement but also a mobile phone, the return of documents they still held, and another Rs 20,000 for food expenses. "One of the SP's friends contacted us and informed us that they want to apologize and finish the matter," the woman's mother claimed. "Some of our acquaintances also made us understand that they are big and powerful people and we can never compete, that cases stay stuck in courts for years, and she will have to keep running to Panchkula for hearings," she added.

A senior police officer privy to the case didn't confirm that a settlement had been reached but said the woman had indeed withdrawn her case, and the police had filed a closure report. The woman's parents told The Print that the "settlement" was arrived at a few weeks after the woman lodged her complaint with the police.

Although the family initially accused both the IPS officer and his wife of ill-treating the woman, they subsequently claimed that the latter had been primarily responsible. In her complaint, the woman alleged that her employers had tied her up, forcibly chopped off her hair, refused her meals for days, and made her sleep on the cold floor in winter. On 4 February last year, she was thrown out of the house. Shortly thereafter, a police constable found her in a state of disarray on the streets, took her to a nearby temple, and helped her contact her family.

On the basis of her complaint, a Zero FIR was filed at Delhi's Fatehpur Beri Police Station on 8 February under several sections of the IPC, including unlawful compulsory labor, theft, wrongful confinement, and causing hurt. The case was eventually transferred to the Panchkula Police.

Her parents told The Print that the woman got married in December 2022 and is currently not employed. Her mother said that the woman was trying to put the past behind her, but it wasn't always easy. "It was time for her to move on," her mother told The Print. "She still has headaches and nightmares, but we are trying our best to help her come out of it."

Although her wounds may have healed, they have left a lasting impact. Her legs hurt when she does too many household chores, her mother added.

The case raises important questions about the treatment of domestic workers in India and the justice system's response to such cases. While the woman's family may have felt that dropping the case was the best course of action for their own well-being, it sends a worrying message about the impunity with which powerful individuals can abuse their employees without facing consequences.

It's important to note that domestic workers in India, who are predominantly women from lower-caste and marginalized communities, are often subject to exploitation and abuse. Many are employed through unlicensed agencies that operate without proper oversight, making it easier for employers to mistreat them. Moreover, domestic work is not recognized as a formal occupation under Indian labor laws, leaving workers without legal protection.

The Indian government has taken some steps to address the issue. In 2021, it passed the Code on Social Security, which for the first time recognizes domestic workers as eligible for benefits such as healthcare and pensions. However, more needs to be done to ensure that domestic workers are protected from abuse and exploitation.

One key step would be to regulate the domestic work sector more effectively, ensuring that all agencies are licensed and subject to proper oversight. This would help prevent cases of abuse and exploitation from occurring in the first place. Additionally, domestic workers should be given legal recognition as workers and granted the same rights and protections as other employees.

Finally, the justice system must do more to ensure that perpetrators of abuse are held accountable. Cases of abuse against domestic workers often go unreported, and even when they are, the perpetrators are rarely brought to justice. This sends a message that domestic workers are disposable and their rights can be violated with impunity.

In conclusion, the case of the 23-year-old domestic worker from Assam highlights the urgent need for better protection for domestic workers in India. While her family may have felt that dropping the case was the best course of action, it sends a worrying message about the impunity with which powerful individuals can abuse their employees. The Indian government and justice system must take steps to regulate the domestic work sector, grant domestic workers legal recognition, and hold perpetrators of abuse accountable.