"we Have Failed As Humans!" Sonu Sood On The Current Migrant Situation
by Ashwini Deshmukh | May 18, 2020, 13:46 IST
Sonu Sood may have been loved in blockbusters like Yuva, Jodhaa Akbar, Dabangg, Shootout at Wadala, Happy New Year and Simmba. But right now, he's adulated as a real-life hero. From the moment the lockdown was announced he has been doing his bit to alleviate the sufferings of those affected by it. From offering his hotel for healthcare workers, distributing food among the underprivileged, feeding migrants during Ramzan… he has now been organising buses to transport stranded migrant labourers to their hometowns. Pictures of him waving out to the homebound migrants is one of the few heartening images we have come across in these dark times. A chat with the actor who has his heart in the right place.
What made you step out to help the migrants?
Migrants are the heartbeat of our country. Everyday we're seeing so many people suffering, walking on the roads, losing their lives… Imagine the plight of the children, walking along with their parents, with no one to help them. I couldn't allow myself to just sit at home and do nothing about it. I had to go out and help them.
How did you go about the job?
I approached a lot of government officials and various departments to seek permissions. Finally, I had a breakthrough. I got all the required permissions, which was a huge task. Then I was able to send so many families back home. The kind of satisfaction I got watching those kids smiling and waving out from the bus along with their parents, as I bid them goodbye has been the most satisfying feeling ever in my life so far. I've decided that no matter what, until the lockdown gets over, I'm going to devote all my time to this cause.
It must have been emotionally and physically draining for you too…
I wake up at 7 am and until 2 am, I'm coordinating with the labourers, with the transport guys, the departments of our state and those of others, assembling everyone for their journeys back home. People have been affected mentally, physically and emotionally. They are broken. They have lost trust and faith in the system. They know they won't survive if they stay here. The kind of desperation I saw, was extremely scary. We had to win back their trust and send them home safely. I'm glad I was able to help these hundreds reunite with their families.
Tell us about the challenges you faced while helping out.
The challenge was to get those permissions in place. If I got permission for 200 people, in those two three days until the formalities were completed, 30-40 people would leave finding some other means like trucks etc. So, I had to replace them with another set of 30-40 people and get those permissions all over again. Getting the permissions is a lengthy process as the files go through different departments. You have to follow up with a zillion people and push for things to move fast. Every minute is tough for the people who're waiting to go back. But now a lot of people are helping fasten the process since they know I've taken up this cause.
What will remain in your memory about these days?
I feel helpless about not being able to make each and every person reach home. I wish I could bring out my car, load everyone in it and personally drive each one to their homes. Unfortunately, I couldn't convince those, who chose to walk right up to UP, Jharkhand and Uttarakhand. Imagine the guts… walking all the way with their little kids. All this is going to stay in my memory forever. That we have failed as humans. I wonder if they will ever be able to come out of this trauma. It's so sad… so many have got injured, parents who have been waiting for their children to return home instead have received the news that their son died in an accident... It's totally unacceptable that we didn't bother about them. I pray we don't lose any more lives. Migrants are the heartbeat of our country. I don't want this heartbeat to stop. I ask God for strength to work harder and help more families reach their homes safely.
How did you manage the finances? Did any aid come from the government?
No. There's no aid from the government. I started doing this with my own money. It was a one-man show. But now people are coming forward and joining hands to help. So together
#SonuSood makes arrangements for migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand to travel back home amid lockdown.
A post shared by Filmfare (@filmfare) on May 17, 2020 at 1:52am PDT
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