When U. Manikumari (27), a native of East Godavari, left home for Bahrain two years ago to work as a domestic help, she could not have imagined the hardships she faced during her stay. Apart from working without pay for months, she also ended up in jail allegedly after much physical abuse at the hands of her employers and her agent.
Manikumari’s story is similar to several other women from A.P, especially the districts of Kadapa, East and West Godavari, who leave their homes to work in Gulf countries, and end up facing hardships. Her agent charged her Rs.10,000 that helped her land a job in Bahrain, where she was paid about Rs.10,000 a month to cook, clean and take care of the children of her employer.
“My hand was injured in the third month, and my employer sent me back to my agent, who kept me with him for three months and physically abused me,” said a grim-faced Manikumari, showing cigarette burn-marks inflicted on her by agent Srinu. Manikumari fled the place due to physical abuse, and from another Indian employer, who also did not pay her for six months. She met four others like her who had also fled from their employers, and began staying together in a rented apartment.
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“After working independently for two months, she had gone to the hospital because she was sick. There the police found her and since it is illegal to stay without an employer, Manikumari was jailed. Finally, with the help of the Indian Community Welfare Fund, she was sent back on Thursday,” explained Sister Lissy Joseph, of the Domestic Workers Movement (DWM).
Manikumari, who has three daughters, one aged 15, left for her home in Bulipeta village, East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, on Thursday night.