I have been sweeping the first floor of the ministry of home affairs for the last two years. I got a huge increment of Rs 200 so I switched jobs.

I live in a notorious area. Our locality is such that people shed blood even over children's fights.

I started doing cleaning jobs at 13. Since then I have been a sweeper.

I will remain a sweeper for the rest of my life. I don't have a permanent job and don't have any chance to get one. I can't write and can just about read Hindi with much difficulty. How can I have a future? In India only literate people have a future.

Life is alright. I work hard, earn, eat and sleep. What else do you want? Here in North Block, I am a temporary sweeper. My security pass is renewed every month.

In many shifts, I clean Advaniji's lobby and offices around his room. When we see him we say namaste. He responds, but security guards never allow us to speak to him. His room has a carpet that is cleaned by the permanent staff. Temps are not allowed into his room.

I have heard about 15th August. It's a festival, right?

I don't know even what's good about India. I like my friends. That's all. I have inscribed my friend Salman's name on my wrist, he was my best buddy. Tragedy struck when he died in a road accident.

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We sweep North Block where powerful people work. Our own power is our capacity to work hard! The poor don't nurture dreams.

As told to Sheela Bhatt