All shoots of films and daily soaps have been suspended till May 1 by the Government of Maharashtra amid the second wave of COVID-19. As the industry is facing economic crisis, leading cine bodies like the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) and Producers' Guild have jumped to the rescue of daily wage workers. According to a leading daily's report, FWICE is ensuring that production houses bear the treatment expense for every daily wage worker who has contracted the virus during the shoot.
President of FWICE, BN Tiwari, told the daily, "A death cover of Rs 25 lakh due to COVID-19 and hospitalisation cover of Rs 2 lakh have been provided. Recently, one of our members [who was working on a television show] met with an accident on his way back home, post 18 hours of the shoot, and lost his life. We ensured his family was given the Rs 25 lakh compensation, even though he didn’t die on the sets or due to the virus. He was an assistant art designer; we have offered the same position to his wife if she wishes to take it up. As far as the members who are not working are concerned, they can contact us if they [come down with the infection]. We’ll do everything we can, in our personal capacity."
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The Vice-president of Producers’ Guild, Manish Goswami, shared, "In my personal capacity, I am doing whatever I can for the daily wagers. I have distributed groceries among them."
(Source: Mid-Day)
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