Having about 5 lakh members the federation gives monthly cash and vouchers for food-grains
Mumbai: The COVID-19 pandemic crisis has hit hard many industries and the entertainment industry is also experiencing the ripple effects of coronavirus. On March 24, after the announcement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for 21-days a nationwide lockdown, Bollywood film bodies including Federation of Western Indian Cine Employees (FWICE) and Indian Film & Television Director’s Association (IFTDA) decided to halt shooting of films, serials, TV shows and web series.
In fact several thousand crores projects have been halted and the sets are even erected for the same, resulting in affecting the thousands of junior artist and technician’s integral part of the entertainment industry.
Ashok Pandit, Chief Advisor of FWICE said, “There are 5 lakh members under this federation, thus we are trying to reach out to as many as possible from March onwards. Since there is no financial support from any government, the film fraternity personalities themselves are contributing to this financial aid.”
The Bollywood industry personalities like Aamir Khan, Akshay Kumar, Varun Dhawan, Guru Randhawa, Kriti Sanon, Ayushmann Khurrana and Rajkumar Hirani have contributed to Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES Fund).
“There 32 crafts departments involved in one production unit, thus each member in the family plays crucial role. The FWICE has tried to reach out as many as possible, by giving out Rs.3000 cash and Rs 1,500 voucher of supermarket for grocery to each of the members. The move has been initiated since March. Actors like Ajay Devgan, Varun Dhawan, Rohit Shetty, Anupam Kher, and Amitabh Bachchan have contributed in their ways to support the technicians and junior artists,” added Pandit.
A member of Western Indian Cinematographer Association said, “He has neither received any cash from March nor any other gift voucher from March. However, he got a gift voucher of Rs 1,500 in this month from the Association.”
Bollywood film federations support all the fraternity members financially
