Animated film to check social boycott of returnees in UP

Tribune News Service

Lucknow, May 22

With workers returning to their villages facing social boycott, Basti District Magistrate Ashutosh Niranjan is pro-actively attempting to apply the healing touch. A one-minute animated film in the local dialect is being used to censure those indulging in harassment of the returning workers. In the film, a local, ‘Hariya’, is seen calling up the village pradhan informing him in a conspiratorial tone about Lakhan and Kishun who had returned from the city the previous night. “Please see to it as they don’t spread corona in the village”, he whispers to the pradhan.

The village pradhan severely reprimands the caller: “Buddhi brashta ho gaya hai kya Hariya tumhara? Jo bhi shahar se ayega usko corona hoga ee kaun bola? Afwaah mat failao.” (Are you out of your mind Hariya? Who told you that every one returning from the city is suffering from corona? Don’t spread rumors.”)

The pradhan than enlightens Hariya that for the safety of their families and the villagers both Lakhan and Kishun are quarantined in their homes.

A voiceover informs that every person returning from other states is being medically screened and asked to follow the instructions. For that reason, such discrimination against them is not correct. Basti DM said the grass root workers were spreading the message around in the district.