Ever since the pandemic started, the 14-year-old daughter of Tunu Mondal, a house-help living in the underbelly of a posh South Kolkata locality, has remained out of school. Despite efforts by the state government in West Bengal, she could not manage a steady internet connection and laptop for her daughter. With the pandemic eating up her husband’s job, Tunu has had to take on new work. While she is still trying to send her youngest son to online classes at a neighbour’s, she has started taking her daughter out to work with her. Tunu’s daughter had good grades in school. But there is no way that Tunu can afford another smartphone and her son is too young to come. Some of her employers have been kind and offered her books, even financial help. But with schools continuing to be shut for nearly two years now, Tunu doesn’t think it will be possible for her daughter to catch up with the other kids. Tunu’s daughter is one of the thousands of girls that lost their right to education due to the pandemic. And one of the millions whose financial condition and lack of awareness have resulted in their dropping out of school.