Millions of children in India continue to be driven into labour by poverty.<br/> <br />Many now are demanding stringent laws to curb the practice, as the world marks World Day Against Child Labour on Tuesday.<br/> <br />These young children work selling roasted corn in the streets of New Delhi.<br/> <br />Nine-year-old Akash, who works with his mother, says he wishes he could attend school instead.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) AKASH, A CHILD LABOURER, SAYING:<br/> <br />"I pick up sticks and sell them in the market, and I am paid a meagre amount of money. I wish to go to school, so that I can also play and study in the school and the teachers will also teach me over there."<br/> <br />He is one of an estimated 60 million children who are forced to work as labourers under severe financial duress.<br/> <br />One analyst says there is no shock or outrage in society to help generate firm action.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (English) CHAIRPERSON OF NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR PROTECTION OF CHILD RIGHTS (NCPCR), SHANTHA SINHA, SAYING:<br/> <br />"Somewhere I think as a country all of us must express a sense of outrage, not accept children in labour force and bring pressure on the government to see that there is a strict enforcement of the laws and get children to schools."<br/> <br />Though child labour is illegal in India, children as young as five years of age still work long days to earn meagre wages in hazardous conditions.<br/> <br />Sarah Sheffer, Reuters
