Alleged Modern-Day Bondage: Tribal Girl Forced into Domestic Labor

A woman in Maharashtra's Palghar district faces charges for allegedly forcing a tribal girl into bonded domestic labor. The victim, a ten-year-old from the Katkari community, suffered abuse from the accused, who threatened action when confronted. Legal action is underway under several relevant sections.

The police in Maharashtra's Palghar district have filed a case against a woman who allegedly coerced a ten-year-old tribal girl into bonded domestic labor. This alarming incident sheds light on the underreported plight of marginalized communities.

The young girl, from the Katkari tribal community in Wada taluka, was living with her grandparents after being abandoned by her mother, following her father's death. According to the girl's paternal grandmother, the accused took the minor away during last year's Ganesh festival and forced her into demeaning labor, including washing clothes, wiping floors, and drying fish. The abuse allegedly persisted even after her return in June 2025.

Tension escalated when the woman reportedly attempted to take the child back, threatening a police complaint over an advance payment of Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,000. The accused now faces charges under laws prohibiting bonded labor, child labor, along with the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

(With inputs from agencies.)