When it comes to children involved in domestic services, the concept is often hidden and hard to tackle because of its links to social and cultural patterns. In many countries child domestic work is not only accepted socially and culturally, but is also regarded in a positive light as a protected and non-stigmatized type of work and preferred to others forms of employment, especially for girls. The perpetuation of traditional female roles and responsibilities, within and outside the household, as well as the perception of domestic service as part of a woman’s “apprenticeship” for adulthood and marriage, also contribute to the persistence of child domestic work as a form of child labour.
The lives and stories of these children often get lost in the complicated statistics that are available to us. We tend to lose sight of the fact that these individuals aren’t just a number or a part of a percentage, but are actual humans with difficult circumstances that affect the course of their entire life.
I got in touch with my maid, Tara, who has been involved in child domestic work ever since she was nine years old. She is twenty-six years old now, and wants to share her story.
She is originally from Andhra Pradesh, the only child to her parents. Growing up, her family was extremely poor financially. Her mother was involved in domestic services while her father was a truck driver. Her parents didn’t have the best relationship and had an extremely rocky marriage.
Her dad was an alcoholic and her mother often had to pick up his slack and work extra hours to support the family.
When Tara turned 9 years old, it was getting extremely difficult for her mother to support the family all by herself, hence she roped Tara into her field and got her to start working to make ends meet. When asked how this situation was like for her, she said:
“It felt like a huge responsibility in the beginning, I used to work 3-4 houses a day, and when you’re that young, it's physically and mentally exhausting. However, I didn’t want to see my mother struggle alone, so I
did the work I had to do.”
“That sounds very challenging. How did you manage to cope with such a demanding job at a young age?”
“Honestly, in the first year of working I used to cry a lot because I just wanted to stay home and do nothing. My workload only increased when my father stopped working entirely. It forced me to mature and grow up faster when I did not want to. I wanted to be a child. But that wasn’t an option.”
Tara continued to work in houses as a domestic helper till she was 15. Her parents separated when she was 12 and her mother and herself moved to Bangalore for a fresh start. Tara continued to work in houses for some time and then enrolled herself in a beautician course so she had the option to work in salons.
“I enrolled myself into a three-month course and then tried applying to a few salons for work, however my employers never gave us our monthly salaries when it was due and created a scene when we asked for our rightful money. It stressed me out too much, so I left and went back to being a maid.”
When asked if she ever faced any trouble or mistreatment at houses, she said, “Yes, I faced many difficulties. I was often treated poorly and discriminated against by some employers. I was paid very little for my hard work and had to endure verbal abuse and mistreatment. I was not allowed to go to school or pursue any other interests. I felt isolated and lonely as I couldn't interact with children of my age or enjoy my childhood like others did.”
However, Tara never stopped. She stayed positive in every situation and made sure to enjoy life regardless of her circumstances. She continued working at houses and eventually it just became a part of her daily life.
She worked in apartments mainly and joined associations of house help and made friends in these communities that had a similar life as she did. She finally had a sense of belonging and was happy with whatever she got.
When she turned 19, she met her now-husband, she left her mother’s house and began living with him while still supporting her mother. He worked as a security guard in a factory, and helped Tara financially as well. After getting married soon after, she became pregnant at 22. This was an unexpected expense that really scared her. Hence, she started working at a day-care center while also being a maid. Her husband also took extra shifts to make ends meet.
“It was a lot of work and I used to get really tired, but God gave me a miracle, and I would do anything for my child. So, I didn’t mind.”
She took some time off when her son was born but after he turned a year old, she went back to work. She took him along to the houses she worked at as there was no one to look after him when she was working. She also resumed her job at the day-care.
“My employers were kind enough to let me bring my son to work, so I was very thankful, and I was also relieved that I didn’t have to leave him alone. It was challenging, but nothing I couldn’t handle.”
Tara is now pregnant with her second child, and still working extremely hard to make ends meet for her new family. She feels like life has come full circle, as she thinks she is doing exactly what her mother did at her age for her family’s needs. “I will not make my children work. They need to go to school and live a normal childhood. They will be educated. And when I get older, they will take care of me with their fancy jobs that I pray they have. Till then, I will keep working.”
Another story that involves struggle and hard work, is of my former cook’s daughter, Neha. When we think of a typical 18-year-old student, we imagine them studying, preparing for exams, or hanging out with friends. But for Neha, a high school senior, life is much more complicated. Neha is not just a student; she is also a maid, working in three different households to help her family survive.
Neha’s story is one of resilience and determination. She lives in a small village near Jaipur with her parents and three younger siblings. Her father works as a farmer but struggles to make ends meet due to frequent droughts. Her mother, who used to be a homemaker, fell ill two years ago, which is when Neha had to step up.
“I never thought I would end up doing this,” Neha says, reflecting on her situation. “I used to dream of going to college, but now my main concern is making sure my family has enough to eat.”
Neha starts her day at 5 AM, helping her siblings get ready for school before rushing off to her own classes. After school, she heads straight to work, cleaning houses until late in the evening. Her schedule is grueling, but Neha doesn’t complain.
“It’s tough, but I know why I’m doing this. My family depends on me, and I can’t let them down. It all started when my mother fell sick. She couldn’t work anymore, and the medical bills were piling up. My father’s income wasn’t enough, and we were really struggling. I knew I had to do something, so I found a job cleaning houses. I was 16 at the time.”
Curious of her day-to-day life, I enquired about her daily routine. “My day starts early. I wake up at 5 AM to prepare breakfast and help my siblings get ready for school. After that, I go to school by myself. Once classes are over, I head to the homes where I work. I clean, wash dishes, and sometimes cook, depending on what’s needed. By the time I get home, it’s already late. I try to study for a bit before going to bed, but I’m usually too exhausted.”
When asked how she manages the two worlds, she said: “It’s difficult. Sometimes I miss school if there’s too much work to be done, but I try to keep up with my studies as much as possible. My teachers have been supportive, and they understand my situation. I often study during breaks at work, even if it’s just for a few minutes.”
“Have you ever faced challenges or mistreatment in your work?”
“Yes, there have been times when I was treated unfairly. Some employers expect too much or don’t pay on time. It can be frustrating, but I remind myself that this work is important for my family. There are also kind people who treat me well and understand my situation, and I’m grateful for them.
“Of course, there are days when I feel overwhelmed and want to give up. But then I think about my family, especially my younger siblings. They look up to me, and I want to set a good example for them. I can’t afford to give up”
The essence of hard work and determination shines bright in Neha, and her goals for the future only shine brighter.
“I still dream of going to college one day. I want to become a teacher so I can help other children, especially those from poor families, get an education. I don’t want my siblings to go through what I’m going through. I hope that one day, we can have a better life.”
Neha’s story is a testament to the strength and perseverance of millions of children and teenagers who, despite their circumstances, continue to fight for a better future. While she faces countless obstacles, Neha remains hopeful and determined to change her life and the lives of those she loves.
Neha is just one among many young people whose stories often go unheard, lost in the statistics of child labor and poverty. Yet, behind every number, there is a human being, like Neha, working tirelessly to make a difference for their families.
10.1 million children work as labourers in India, with 5.6 million of them males and 4.5 million of them females, according to Census 2011 statistics. According to estimates, 152 million kids worldwide—nearly one in ten of all kids—work during childhood including 64 million females and 88 million males.
Although the prevalence of child employment has decreased in recent years, some particularly harmful kinds of child exploitation, including bonded servitude, the use of children as soldiers, and trafficking, continue to occur. India is home to a number of different industries where child labour is used, including brick kilns, carpet weaving, garment manufacturing, domestic service, food and refreshment services (like tea stalls), agriculture, fishing, and mining.
Tara and Neha’s stories are just few among millions.
Written by
Navya Bhagat.
