‘My heart cries looking at migrant workers’
Ever since Shakti Kapoor posted an emotional video on social media talking about the plight of migrant workers of the country, the actor has been getting messages from random people who are stuck in Mumbai asking for help. Kapoor feels that his hands are tied but he says that one way to help them in this crisis is by setting up a separate body where people can donate and the money can then be used only for their welfare across India.
“My heart cries looking at the condition of the migrants. There was a woman who gave birth to a child on the road and after some time, she continued to walk. Some are surviving by eating leaves, while others are dying of hunger. There are small children as well who are walking miles, barefoot. How can anybody be okay after watching this? I can’t do much except for donating money. I urge the Government to create an authorised NGO or pan-India initiative to ensure that help reaches them,” says Kapoor, 67.
Lauding the efforts of actor Sonu Sood, who booked 10 buses and sent 350 migrant workers to Karnataka from Mumbai, Kapoor says that anyone who is in an affluent position has to come up with practical solutions like these. “We should run all the local buses to reach them and get them to a proper shelter care. And that only the Government can do. Crores of rupees have been donated for the relief funds but it has not reached the migrants. This problem could have been solved in a week’s time but people didn’t take action at the right time.”