Every day nine-year-old Milli (named changed) rushes through her morning ablutions so that she does not get late. However, unlike other children her age, including her friends, Milli is not racing against time to reach school but her employers’ house where she takes care of a girl, less than half her age, along with doing other household chores. At an age, when most children are seen waiting for their school buses dressed impeccably in their uniforms, Milli, in her worn-down clothes walks past them with hopes and dreams in her eyes. “I wish I could study like my younger sister.

But, mummy says I should help her with this work. I do not argue with her,” Milli told IANS. “I hope one day I would.” Milli shares her story with millions of others.Bhuwan Ribhu, an activist with the Bhachpan Bachao Andolan, or Save the Childhood Movement, said that as per 2010 National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) figures, there are close to 4.9 million child labourers in the country. “As these are government figures, the civil society figures are much higher,” he said. According to the Census 2001 figures there were 12.6 million working children in the age group of five-14 years.

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