The COVID-19 pandemic has plagued the entire country for sure, along with the many industries that it housed — the entertainment industry being one of them. After a complete shutdown for a few months last year, it opened up when the cases subsided, but with strict protocols. Now, given the second wave has hit us pretty bad, things have again come to a halt and shoots have been cancelled — putting a lot of daily wage workers out of business yet again.
Last year, during the lockdown, Aditya Chopra lent his support to thousands of daily wage earners of the film industry by crediting money directly into their bank accounts. The biggest production house of India, Yash Raj Films, has again decided to come forward in this moment of need.
Aditya Chopra has taken cognizance of the massive socio-economic and humanitarian crisis that the daily workers of the industry are currently facing and is launching the ‘Yash Chopra Saathi Initiative’ to provide support to thousands of daily workers in the film industry.
As part of the initiative, the foundation will initiate a direct benefit transfer of Rs 5000 to the women and senior citizens of the industry as well as distribute Ration kits to workers for a family of 4 for an entire month through their NGO partners, Youth Feed India. Through an online application process at https://yashchoprafoundation.org, those in need can apply immediately to avail this support from YRF.
Akshaye Widhani, Senior Vice President, Yash Raj Films says:
The Yash Chopra Foundation is committed to constantly and relentlessly being a support system to the Hindi film industry and its workers who have been an integral part of our 50 year journey. The pandemic has pushed the backbone of our industry, the daily workers, to a breaking point and YRF wants to support as many workers and their families who are in need due to the loss of livelihood. Yash Chopra Saathi Initiative is aiming to provide support to the pandemic hit workers of our industry who we urgently need to focus on.
This sure is a thoughtful initiative by Aditya and Yash Raj Films.
Here’s a gentle reminder that we are together in this fight against the second wave of COVID-19. So stay home, stay safe and please wear your masks and take the vaccine if you can avail it.