B’wood helps
Alia Bhatt collaborates with ActionAid India, an NGO, to deliver essentials for the underprivileged deeply affected by COVID-19
The Gangubai Kathiawadi actress put out videos on her Instagram, in which she’s seen talking about donating money, urging others to donate as well. “The pandemic has had a devastating impact on employment and incomes with many struggling to even get two square meals a day. ActionAid India is working across multiple states, helping some of the poorest communities survive by providing them with essential groceries and hygiene materials. Every bit of your love and support will go towards fighting the growing hunger crisis (sic),” she says.
Comedian Kapil Sharma and actress Bhumi Pednekar also have partnered to help patients in Karnataka battling the virus. Bhumi, who has teamed up with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s ‘Mission Zindagi’ initiative, now joins hands with Kapil to provide oxygen supply for people in Karnataka.
The programme will send oxygen buses outside COVID hospitals in Hoskote, Devanahalli, Doddaballapur, Nelamangala-1 & Nelamangala-2 to help aid those in need.
Bhumi says, “Our buses would be installed with oxygen concentrators that would provide tertiary care to patients outside district hospital emergencies while they wait for a bed. Our buses will help share the load of hospitals in smaller towns where the cases are now rising. I’m glad we collaborated with Kapil on this leg of the mission as he is well loved by many. I want to do my bit to ensure that as many COVID-19 patients get the help that they critically need and I’m thankful to Gurudev for being a beacon of hope at this time of crisis.”
Kapil also spoke about the initiative emphasising on how as humans, we have to support each other right now. “I’m also doing my bit. It is my honour to associate with the extraordinary work that Gurudev and Bharatiya Jain Sanghatana (BJS) are doing. With Bhumi, who is doing exemplary work towards COVID relief, this initiative with mobile oxygen buses, we have now started supporting people in Karnataka and are planning to take this to more states as well,” says Kapil.
Other actors such as Mouni Roy, Manoj Bajpayee, Ranvir Shorey and Tahir Raj Bhasin have been rooting for an animal shelter called ‘Pawsitive’, which was destroyed in the recent cyclone. They have been inviting donations from the social media users.