When schools shut down due to lockdowns, Siddesh Vasnik tried to attend online classes by using the mobile phone of his neighbour. After a few months, as the neighbour shifted to another house, the 10-year-old missed out on attending online classes. Residing in a small house within an Adivasi pada (tribal hamlet) of Aarey Colony, Vasnik hardly attends school now as he does not have money to travel to school daily which is around 2-3 km far.

“My mom works as a housemaid and to help her, I too go to work on a nearby rice farm. They pay me around Rs 30-Rs 50 depending on the hours of work. During the farming season, rather than going to school, I prefer going to work. I never wanted to leave my education, I love to study and that is why I enjoy attending a community learning school where I can study with my friends. We are all of the different age groups but we study together,” says Vasnik, who dreams of becoming a police officer in the future.