(Representational image courtesy Shutterstock)

This story is a part of our #HeroesOfTheRepublic campaign. This Republic Day, we at The Better India are celebrating those who live and breathe the values enshrined in our Constitution.

Child exploitation remains a grim reality in India, with millions of children forced into bonded labour, deprived of education, and denied their basic rights.

Children are often forced to endure gruelling conditions in hazardous factories, working long hours with no rest and receiving little to no pay. Exploited and deceived, they are often told their meagre wages have already been sent to their parents, leaving them powerless to speak out. Driven by the desperate need to support their families, these children sacrifice their childhoods and endure immense hardship.

Addressing this crisis requires a united effort to liberate and rehabilitate these vulnerable lives — a mission that Shekhar Mahajan, a lawyer turned social worker, took upon himself. “I wanted to........

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