Published: 11th October 2006
AN Indian housemaid allegedly forced to live on dates and water flew home last night, after fleeing her sponsor’s home.
Theodora Mensurate, aged 32, walked around 20km from Askar to Kuwait Avenue, Manama last Sunday, in the hope of finding help.
A passer-by gave her a lift to Sacred Heart Church, from where she was taken into the care of the Migrant Workers’ Protection Society.
She was working for a family of eight in Askar and was paid just once in five months.
“She said that she also had to work at another house in which the sponsor’s mother lived,” a MWPS volunteer told the GDN.
Published: 11th October 2006
AN Indian housemaid allegedly forced to live on dates and water flew home last night, after fleeing her sponsor’s home.
Theodora Mensurate, aged 32, walked around 20km from Askar to Kuwait Avenue, Manama last Sunday, in the hope of finding help.
A passer-by gave her a lift to Sacred Heart Church, from where she was taken into the care of the Migrant Workers’ Protection Society.
She was working for a family of eight in Askar and was paid just once in five months.
“She said that she also had to work at another house in which the sponsor’s mother lived,” a MWPS volunteer told the GDN.
The family allegedly paid her just BD50, though her contract was for BD100 a month.
“She also told us that she was left to survive on only dates and water and even though she worked for five months, she was paid only one month’s salary,” said the volunteeer.
“But she did the smart thing by taking her passport and CPR card, when she walked out.
Ms Mensurate told volunteers she paid an agent in India Rs50,000 (BD450) to get a visa to Bahrain and has two children back home in Goa.
She has been staying with an MWPS volunteer and his family, since the shelter is crowded with nine other maids.
“We contacted her cousin in Dubai, who paid for an Oman Airways ticket for her and she is taking with her Rs10,000 (BD90),” said the volunteer.
“Of this BD50 was given to her by the sponsor. which he said was all he owed her and the remaining was donated by our volunteers and the Sacred Heart Church.”
Anyone who would like to help Ms Mensurate should call at 39692829.
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© Gulf Daily News
