While he awaits CM’s approval for cine workers’ inoculation plan, YRF head honcho Aditya Chopra to launch programme to provide financial help, essentials to Bollywood’s daily wagers.
Aditya Chopra
Earlier this week, mid-day reported that Yash Raj Films’ head honcho Aditya Chopra has pledged to sponsor the vaccination of 30,000 film workers (Follow the invisible leader, May 5). Even as he awaits Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s permission to implement the drive, the filmmaker is launching the Yash Chopra Saathi Initiative to support daily wagers who are struggling under the weight of the economic strain brought on by the industry shutdown.
As part of the programme, the Yash Chopra Foundation will initiate a direct benefit transfer of Rs 5000 to the women and senior citizens of the industry. They will also distribute monthly ration kits, each sufficing a family of four, to workers through their partner, Youth Feed India. Those in need can apply on the foundation’s website to avail support from the production house. This initiative comes on the back of the financial aid that Chopra had provided to the community last year. A source reveals, “During the 2020 lockdown, Aditya had credited money directly into the accounts of 3,000 daily wagers, thus helping them tide over the turbulent times. Now, he has stepped up again to ensure the vulnerable sections of the industry are not left to fend for themselves.”
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Confirming the latest development, Akshaye Widhani, senior vice president, YRF, states that the studio is committed to being a support system to the Hindi film industry. “The pandemic has pushed the daily workers, who are the backbone of our industry, to breaking point. The initiative is aiming to provide support to the pandemic-hit workers who we urgently need to focus on,” he says.
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