When you her these things in CNN and other western media then it seems so weird but each and every house (almost all) in Nepal has one of these young helpers with them. This is one topic that I cant judge because if you look at it, our own family has a helper and we have been brought up thinking that its alright. I have seen instances where people say "Do you want to go back home?" and the helpers are scared to death about returning. Mainly because they dont get to eat, have to involve in physical labor AND they have to bear physical abuse often. So is it alright for people to hire these people? I have no idea!