In Hyderabad, at least seven children including 13-year-old Afreen play in a new apartment complex after their homes were demolished on October 1, 2024. The demolition affected 160 homes in Shankarnagar Colony, Old Malakpet, part of the Musi River Development Project. Families were moved to government-built 2BHK flats mainly in Saidabad, about 3 km away, with some relocated as far as 20 km. The government promised ₹25,000 for shifting costs and ₹2 lakh in financial aid, but many families report struggling economically. Afreen’s mother, who used to earn ₹5,000–₹6,000 a month as a cook, can no longer afford to send her children to their nearby private school due to distance and lack of work. Some teenagers have begun wage work since relocation, as family incomes have dropped. Local trust schools saw a rush of enrollment requests, but lack space, and parents avoid government schools citing issues like bullying and addiction. Similar resettlement struggles affect over 600 families displaced in Mumbai and Chennai, where children’s education has been severely disrupted. At one Mumbai settlement, around 20% of 250 children are out of school. Older girls work as domestic help, and schooling ends for many children when families lose their homes. Activist Vanessa Peter from IRCDUC says forced eviction breaks children’s environment, safety, schooling access, and mental well-being, making it hard to bring them back to school. She stresses the absence of proper impact assessments before evictions, which fail to capture children’s true needs. Without plans to support children, many face lasting hardship and lose hope. Forced relocations threaten not just homes but the futures of children, who lose their education and community support. Families are caught in economic instability and emotional trauma long after demolition day.