Coronavirus update: Bengali film fraternity contributes for technicians who live on daily wages

Artistes, young and old, from the Bengali film industry have decided to contribute to a fund set up by the Federation of Cine Technicians and Workers of Eastern India (FCTWEI) to help technicians and crew members who live on daily wages so that they can survive during the lockdown declared amidst the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus disease) pandemic.

Actress-filmmaker Aparna Sen had shared the details of a bank account on Twitter seeking contributions on 25 March.

An appeal to members of the WB film fraternity: a fund has been set up for daily wage technicians & workers to help them during these dark times when there is no work. Any contribution is welcome! Bank details for money transfers given below. pic.twitter.com/xbdjZz3yVE

— Aparna Sen (@senaparna) March 24, 2020

“The decision to create a fund for spotboys, light men and technicians who earn their daily living in the industry was taken before the announcement of the national lockdown for 21 days,” said actor Riddhi Sen, who mentioned a similar initiative for daily-wage theatre artistes by Anirban Bhattacharya, Kaushik Sen and other theatre veterans.

Coronavirus lockdown: Daily-wagers hit the hardest in this hour of uncertainty

Along with Prosenjit Chatterjee, who contributed Rs100,000 to the fund, filmmakers Goutam Ghose and Arindam Sil and actor Gaurav Chakraborty have contributed a total of Rs300,000 so far. “The current situation is such that every passing day throws a new challenge at you," Sil told The Times of India, an English daily. "And things are way more difficult for our daily-wage technician friends.”

“Besides contributing Rs3 lakh, the Artists Forum has created a fund for junior artistes who survive on daily wages. I am happy that people are contributing generously. It shows how united our industry is. Those who are not able to contribute due to the current lockdown have promised to do so when the curfew is lifted," said the actor-turned-director. What good that will do for the daily-wage earners who are without work and pay right now is not clear, however.

Federation secretary Aparna Ghatak said contributions for about 900 workers have been allocated so far. “If more contributions come in, more workers can be supported and the individual allotment amount will also go up," she said. "Artists Forum has already contributed Rs3 lakh. Besides, senior technicians, actors and directors have been contributing to this fund and have promised to continue even after the lockdown.”