Education and Livelihood among Ghat Children in Varanasi: A field study

Education is considered the fundamental social instrument for development and empowerment. But for the children living in an economically marginalized environment, either schooling is a paradox or it coexists with lots of responsibilities. The present study tries to dive into the educational status, workplace, and aspirations of children who spent a substantial amount of their daily living on the Ghats of Varanasi. This study follows field-based observations and informal interviews with forty children on the ghats of Varanasi. The observations were thematically analyzed in a qualitative manner and supplemented by descriptive statistics. The study inquires about the schooling, informal work, family economic conditions, and their aspirations for their future. Findings indicate that the majority of students are enrolled in school. But the majority of enrolled students are constrained by the economic pressure, resulting in limited study time. Time spent on ghats simultaneously provides space for livelihood, social interaction, informal learning, and recreation for the children. It also provides them space for selling ritual items and interacting with foreign travelers and local visitors. Though they face challenges daily, still they hold aspirations for upward mobility in their future life. The study highlights the importance of designing flexible educational interventions and community-based programs that address the socio-economic realities of working children in urban informal environments.