Its students ‘missing’,day care centre stays shut

This,most believe,is due to the drive to “remove streetchildren from the city”. “At least in this area,I hardly see any. I don’t know where have they gone all of a sudden,” says Sinha.

The Delhi government has already evicted beggars and destitute in view of the Games. The few children who did not leave the area while away their time on the street. Suraj,an eight-year-old who came to the city from West Bengal,has nowhere to go now. “Police bagati hai (Police asks us to leave),” he says. He used to come to the centre where he would get to eat his breakfast and lunch,colour his drawing book and learn to write his name. Now,he says,he has nothing to do,so he plays all through the day.

“The centre needs children. If there are no children,or just two three,what do we do but close down,” says Sinha. Suraj,in fact,recalls his friends who have gone away since the CWG extravaganza began in the city. “Furqan,Sonia. They have gone far.” When contacted,DCP Central Jaspal Singh said” “Firstly,the police has nothing to do with it. We are not responsible for this and have not asked any children to leave.”

Meanwhile,Suraj wishes to come back to the centre after the “khel” (Games). Till then,he says,he will play on the road.