‘Slumdog’ children’s truancy threatens their trust fund

MUMBAI, India — A trustee for the child stars of ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ says poor school attendance is putting their trust fund at risk.

Trustee Noshir Dadrawala says Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail is only showing up at school 37 percent of the time and Rubina Ali has only a 27 percent attendance rate.

He says if the children do not get their attendance above 70 percent, they will lose their monthly stipend of about $120. They also risk the lump sum payment they are to get at age 18 that is tied to them graduating school.

The filmmakers set up the trust to provide education, housing and a living allowance to the young stars of the Oscar-winning film, who themselves grew up in Mumbai’s shantytowns. The fund’s amount has not been disclosed.