Many a time, while we drive-by the roads near The Fun Republic Mall or traverse through the sprawling Marine Drive, our eye catches balloons and fancy toys being sold on the streets. But these sellers are often seasoned and striking a bargain is difficult and honestly, unacceptable on our part.
Why if you ask- it is because these sellers are adults in tiny bodies and work on the behalf of their parents to run the family! Some go to school, some of them work 3 jobs a day and a lot many, sell handicrafts or assist shopkeepers to make it through the day or night.
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According to some reports last year, Lucknow was home to the second largest number of children working as labourers in the country which deprives them of the basic rights and facilities.
On the occasion of Anti-Child Labour Day, Team Knocksense took to the streets of Lucknow specifically focusing on areas in Gomti Nagar to interact with the children on the streets. Of course, there are too many kids and young adults on the streets of Lucknow and sadly, it isn’t possible to cover every story.
There are children who haven’t even seen the face of a school in their lifetime and then there are a few, who manage their studies, AND work, within a span of 24 hours.
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Meet Ruksana, who is a school-going teenager during the day and sells toys every evening near 1090 Chauraha to help her family!
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Assisting a local street-food vendor, here we have Salman who goes to school during the day and works on a daily wage basis here at a chaap stall, near Marine Drive!
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Here we have Yogesh who is a sincere school-goer and a daily wage labourer too.
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Our hearts are always open and words too less, for the abject poverty and the deplorable conditions of children around- how they’re being put in the faces of danger, dejection and trauma every day!
So if you chance upon these or such kids around, don’t shy away from purchasing a thing or two without haggling at all because a puny effort can make their whole day. Maybe your act of kindness will stay with them for a long time, since they don’t see much of it anyway.
