The Cellar - And when the shine has faded...

...they're still living in the dirt.

One of the stars of Slumdog Millionaire has watched, along with his family, as police tore down their bamboo and plastic tents, leaving them homeless and distressed. The boy was struck by police as they were dragged from their tents.

Promises of new housing have been lost in discussions. The land on which they had pitched their tent village is government owned and apparently intended as a 'public park'. Help from the makers of Slumdog has mainly been in the form of assistance with education and a promise of a £500k charity donation. How is this boy to maintain his new school place if he has no home?

Quote:

The mother of the child actor said that she did not know what would happen to her family now and that the help promised by local authorities and by the film's makers had not materialised.

"Our house has been broken down by officials. We have not been given any alternate accommodation. Earlier the authorities had said they would give us a house. But I don't think that will happen any more," Shamim Ismail told the BBC.

The families of Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail and co-star Rubina Ali, who played a younger version of the film's female lead, had been promised new accommodation by a local housing authority.

But a decision about whether or not this will go ahead is still pending.

Film director Danny Boyle has strongly denied charges of exploitation.

The film's makers have set up funds to pay for their education and they have been enrolled in school for the first time.

They also recently announced that they will donate £500,000 to a charity which will help children living in the slums of Mumbai.

The film has made more than $200m (£140m) in box office takings around the world.

From: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8049735.stm