So, who has the time or the inclination to even think about the kids who make possible this enjoyment for our kids -- at the cost of their own health, their education and sometimes their life?

Recently, a campaign was launched in Delhi to educate the kids not to burst crackers on Diwali. This step, if implemented well, could go a long way in helping save the life of these forsaken little souls and perhaps, take them to the doors of education once the mercenary benefit attached to their little hands is cut off.

We, at Chandigarh Newsline, decided to speak to the kids in the city and find out their reactions to this campaign.

Says Manmeet Kaur, a class IV student of International Public School, ``I enjoy bursting crackers on Diwali. I did not know that other kids like me have to make them for us. I don't want them to do it, they should also enjoy and play like us. But cannot the older people make crackers for us? Because I love bursting crackers on Diwali''.

Says Rubal, a class IX student of St. Anne's School, ``I don't like playing with crackers anyway. They are such a waste of time and money. i would much rather buy a nice gift with that money instead. And yes, why should we make little kids suffer for our pleasure? We have so many options to enjoy ourselves. Bursting crackers is not the only way. I think the government should ban playing with crackers on Diwali''.

However, Saurabh, a class XI student disagrees. ``See, there are so many problems in India. And nobody is doing anything to solve them. Even if we don't buy crackers, it is not going to help these kids. They will have to work in some other occupation, probably washing dishes or as a servant in some home. The exploitation will continue. It is a vicious cycle. If we buy crackers, at least they get employment, they get fed and clothed. Isn't that mercy enough?''

Agrees Abhishek, his friend at Bhavan Vidyalaya, ``Simply by not buying crackers, you can't take away all their troubles. Even if we don't buy them, where is the money going to come for their education, food and clothing? And to expect the government to provide that is nothing more than an illusion. If Lalu Prasad and Sukh Ram can retain their governments even after siphoning off crores of rupees, to expect the welfare of these kids from such leaders is foolhardiness. Let the kids do what they are doing -- at least they are not financially crippled''.

Ankita Mahajan puts forward another point of view when she says, ``If you believe that letting the kids rot in this hell is fine, I guess you have desensitised your soul too much. If this were the case, no progress would ever have been made in this country. Because we decided to follow our ideals, we have achieved so much. Who could have believed that we could touch the moon, travel continents and get connected to people thousands of miles away in just a minute? But because we believed, we could do it. And if we believe we can tackle the problem of child labour too''.