Given an option, Vasanth would pursue schooling rather than go to work. It is an option that has been denied to him.

Vasanth is among the 17 million child labourers in the country. In all, there are 70 million school dropouts in India. Till last year, Vasanth was a student of the Corporation High School in Kalayanapuram.

But authorities claimed he was a mischief monger and forced his parents — both daily wage labourers — to withdraw him from school.

“Teachers used to cook up reasons to beat me up and insult me,” alleges Vasanth, who is a Dalit. He claims he was victimised ever since he noticed a lizard in the mid-day meal served in the school three years ago and alerted the school authorities.

Sathya, 17, a slum dweller, dropped out of the Corporation school in Ganeshpuram after he flunked his exams.

At present, he is taking private tuition, which has created a big hole in his parents’ pocket: Rs 3,000 as admission fee and Rs 600 as monthly fee.

“This is a regular feature here,” says N Thangaraj of Vyasarpadi-based SCTEDS (Slum Children Sports Talent Education Development Society), which is a partner organisation of CRY (Child Rights and You). “After Class VI, most students dropout of school. Lack of committed teachers is one of the main reasons for their inability to retain students in schools,” he claims.

“Their right to free education must be protected. At present, the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 does not cover kids below six years of age and those in the 15 to 18 years age group. Eighth pass outs are inadequately qualified — either for vocations or for life,” says CRY DGM P Krishnamurthy.

High cost of private education, need to work to support their families and little interest in studies are the main reasons given by three-fourths of the dropouts for skipping school, says Sahaya Teresa of CRY.