While the government has been trying to popularize its efforts to send more children to school, enrolment in primary classes across the country has, in actuality, dropped since 2007. Between 2008-09 and 2009-10, enrolment in classes I to IV in Indian schools dropped by over 2.6 million.
While more data is not available, it would seem that the economic slowdown should be blamed. The slowdown impacted industries that use semi-skilled and un-skilled workers, impacting their ability to send their children to school.
Hopefully, with the growth in these sectors since last year these children will get back to school this year and not be deprived of a future.