Slumdog Kids may get out of slum, get into flat

Mumbai:

A day after the child actors Azharuddin Ismail and Rubina Rafiq of Slumdog Millionaire walked the red carpet at the Oscars, the Congress has proposed to gift a flat each to them.

Azharuddin Ismail Shaikh Usman and Rubina Rafiq Asghar Ali Qureshi, both residents of Garib Nagar slum in Bandra East, Mumbai, played the youngest version of the lead characters in the Oscar-winning film and were flown to the US for Hollywood's biggest awards ceremony on Sunday.

"Slumdog Millionaire" won eight Oscars at the 81st annual Academy Awards -- almost following the fairytale journey of its hero in the movie.

"These children have brought laurels to the country. It is our duty to look after and safeguard them," Mumbai Congress president Kripashankar Singh said Tuesday.

Singh said he would meet Chief Minister Ashok Chavan Tuesday evening and initiate the process. Also, he urged Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) chairman Amarjit Singh Manhas to take up the issue on a priority basis.

In all, it seems these kids made famous by the film are having the time of their life. Not only have they been flown to Hollywood but may also earn a flat as a gift - an opportunity to move out of the slum life.

Rubina's father Rafiq is a casual carpenter while Azharuddin's father Ismail trades in old furniture

i hope its just not cheap publicity.. fr votes.

Yeah better not be publicity.. why not start building houses or something or do something to help out all the others in slums? Are these kids only getting it cuz they have been publicly acknowledged as slum kids?

hopefully it happy....all the best

Originally posted by: preity*zinta

Yeah better not be publicity.. why not start building houses or something or do something to help out all the others in slums? Are these kids only getting it cuz they have been publicly acknowledged as slum kids?

Seriously, right! Maybe congress should start rebuilding the slums....getting one or two kids who happen to be famous will not solve the problem....ALL the kids of the responsibilities of the Congress.

hope its just not a gimmick before the elections.......

Originally posted by: apux

Seriously, right! Maybe congress should start rebuilding the slums....getting one or two kids who happen to be famous will not solve the problem....ALL the kids of the responsibilities of the Congress.

Originally posted by: preity*zinta

Yeah like we all know that these two are only getting these flats cuz they have been publicly outted as slum kids. At first i was sorta with everyone who said Slumdog showed India in a bad light and what not but now I think about it and its like It exists and even if just TWO families are getting something otu of it.. its better than nothing and now just MAYBE congress will step up and do something about this issue

I was reading an article someone posted here on IF about people from the slums and just the things they go through is plain disgusting. I can't believe no one's stopping this

It sad that it takes a outsider making a film on India for the government to actually step up and do something. And you're right, the government helping one or two families is better than none. It's in the step in the right direction.

People rather watch actors ride around in their Mercedes than look at the harsh reality. If you aren't forced to look at the not-so beautiful parts of India, how is it gonna get fixed? It's nice to appreciate the beauty of things but you can't ignore the bad stuff either.

I'm so happy that everything is going so well for the kids..........