Amitabh Bachchan Lends Supports To Freelance Journalists And Senior Correspondents
Exclusive News By Ashok Anchan
Mumbai: The coronavirus pandemic has tested everyone from every industry. In this covid-19 crisis, the Shahenshah of Bollywood Dr. Amitabh Bachchan has come to the rescue of some freelance journalists.
Time and again respected Mr. Amitabh Bachchan has always come forward to help the needy and the deserving. All said and done the Big B’s personal support towards Covid-19 relief is reported in the vicinity of Rs. 15 crore which includes financial aids for various charitable causes and healthcare infrastructures.
Alarmed by the hardships faced by the freelancers from mediocre publications, the superstar Amitabh Bachchan reached out to a group of them with financial assistance and the gesture was the much-needed oxygen in these times of distress.
The coronavirus pandemic had taken its toll since last March 2020 and the lockdown thereon has affected most of them with few of the publications downing shutters or shifting online from print. With no events, major production activities, shootings, launches, music, releases, closure of cinema halls the lives have come to a grinding halt.
“Many senior journalists who have been at it since three – four decades are now freelancing since many years for film trade journals, websites, regional newspaper weeklies, etc. without a fixed pay packet. We all have been finding it hard to take care of the needs of our family members and the requisite basic necessities. After dipping into all our savings and borrowing some amounts, many of us now have been facing testing times. The losses themselves are varied, ranging from the literal deaths of our near and dear colleagues. With no affiliation to any association or union it was difficult in garnering help from the film industry. Thus we thought of approaching celebrities and put forth our request,” informed one of the senior freelancer.
“After a brief discussion with few colleagues, a list of beneficiaries was drawn and after short listing the more needy ones the details of their respective bank accounts, contact numbers, addresses and publication was given to him. The money was transferred directly to their accounts,” added another journalist.
There are no words to express the dominant actors’ kind gesture, who has a huge fan-following base across the globe. The star and the television host has always been recognized, lauded, appreciated and honoured by the politicians, bureaucrats, illustrious personalities all over the world. The dedicated son of the celebrated poet Dr. Harivanshrai Bachchan has completely mesmerized the whole universe.