There was a girl named Asha who was seven years old. Her parents were very poor and her mother worked in a factory while her father was a fisherman and he was a heavy drunkard. Most of the time, Asha?s parents fought because there was no money in the house. They did not love her because she was considered a burden. Although there was free education, her parents did not send her to school because there was no money. They made her work as a maid in a rich family; therefore, she did not have time to play with her friends.

There was a time when she fell ill and did not go to work. Instead of loving and looking after her, her mother beat her badly because she needed the money to buy jewellery. Then one day her mother threw her out of the house and poor Asha did not know where to go. She pleaded her mother to forgive her if she had made a mistake but the woman was so cruel that she did not listen to her.

Mrs Sharma, who was a social worker, saw Asha sleeping on the pathway. She took her to a home where she was given food and clothes and Mrs Sharma also sent her to school and Asha was living a proper life. This story is an example of an abused child who did not know that she had the right to live and enjoy herself. Mrs Sharma should be a model to all those who treat their children like animals.

<B>Keeshan Kumaar RAMGOOLAM Imperial College (For 16 Days 16 Rights Campaign)