Age: 12

12 years old former child domestic labour Kinsu Kumar is a resident of Purikatra, Laldegi Mohalla, Zila-Mirzapur, state-Uttar Pradesh. His village lacks basic facilities. Purikatra is like a dirty slum surrounded by an open drain with sewage and garbage littered all around.

Kinsu belongs to a poor family. His family has no cultivable land and no steady source of income. Kinsu’s father was a wastrel, who used to while away his time along with his friends taking them on rides in a battered old jeep he owned. Kinsu’s mother is a housewife. He has four young siblings.

Kinsu was enrolled in a government school near his house but never went to study. Then, the school was turned into a hospital. His father did not have enough money to send him to a different school, having over-borrowed money from various moneylenders. 

Kinsu started helping in household chores - cooking, cleaning utensils, looking after his younger siblings, etc. He did not like performing these work and always dreamt of going to school.

The BBA activists found Kinsu working for his family and spoke to his father regarding Kinsu’s future. After much convincing, Kinsu’s father realised that instead of making Kinsu work, he should be working and his children should be sent to school.

Kinsu’s father was also convinced to send Kinsu to Bal Ashram, a transit rehabilitation centre for rescued child labourers. Kinsu came to the ashram where he was found to be quite intelligent and was admitted to the government school in the village of Southana directly in Class 4.

In Bal Ashram Kinsu is free, he is not exploited and is free to enjoy his childhood. Kinsu has been regularly topping in his class and in fact recently came first in his school. He has been recently promoted to Class 7. Kinsu dreams of Engineer – Computer Engineer when he grows up, as this is the age of technology and computers are the representation of this age.

He was selected to participate in the Second Children’s World Congress on Child Labour and Education organised by the Global March Against Child Labour. Former child labourers and child activists from over 40 countries participated in the Congress.

He has natural leadership qualities and is a good actor. Kinsu is enjoying himself and is very happy. He has become aware of his rights and knows his responsibility is to study. In this way Kinsu was able to escape his misery and enjoy his childhood and freedom.