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Celebrities in Philanthropy: Sonu Sood brings smile to several lives yet again

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In his recent announcement, he offers bicycles to girls who are not able to attend school because of long distance

New Delhi, 1 November 2020: Known for his dishonesty and brutality, Chhedi Singh was the character Sonu Sood played in Bollywood popular flick Dabang. He has played several villainous characters on the big screen which no one would like to relate to or even think of in the times of distress. But in real life, Sonu Sood has emerged as a person who everyone looks up to and wants to be. After playing the role of messiah for the stranded migrants during the Covid-induced lockdown, Sood has again come to the rescue of girls of Mirzapur and Sonbhadra who were not being able to attend school because of the distance and forest route.

On Saturday, the actor announced on twitter that all the needy girls of a particular village in Uttar Pradesh will get the bicycle very soon.

Sonu Sood is one of the very few people who stood up for the migrants and worked day and night tirelessly during a time when people were scared to step outside their homes because of Covid. When the whole nation was under lockdown and crores were stranded in different parts of the country, he helped many migrants by arranging transport and ensured they reached home safely on his own expenses. Since then, the saga of his philanthropy continued and latest in the series is the announcement about donating bicycles to the girls of village in Mirzapur and Sonbhadra districts of Uttar Pradesh who are not able to attend school because of long distance.

Responding to a tweet by one Santosh Chauhan who highlighted the crisis of these girls, Sood responded saying that all 35 girls of his village will soon get the bicycle.

On Friday, Santosh Chauhan wrote on the social networking sites that there are 35 girls in his village who are compelled to walk 8 to 15 kilometer to attend the school. They don’t have a bicycle to go and their families will not allow them to attend school further. He wrote that these girls are forced to leave studies after 5th grade as they have to travel 8 to 15 kilometres through the forest route to study, which isn’t safe.

Sood responded to him saying all girls in the villages will get cycles and will continue their education. And just like that, this real life hero’s popularity among masses again grew manifold.

Recently for his helping gesture, Sonu was conferred with the prestigious SDG Special Humanitarian Action Award by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).  On the occasion, Sood responded saying "This is a rare honour. UN recognition is very special. I have done whatever little I have done, in my own humble way, for my fellow countrymen without any expectations. However, to be recognised and awarded feels good."

The actor earned a lot of respect and love from all the sections of the society due to his kind deeds during lockdown. Hundreds of such stories regarding his kind gesture circulated on social networking sites when people were in utter distress.

Once, he was informed that several families at a Ghat in Varanasi, the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Nrendra Modi are sleeping hungry. He immediately assured the person that food will reach them soon.

After the migrant issues, the actor turned philanthropist announced an initiative to provide full scholarships to students, facing financial challenges, for higher education.

On his twitter account, he wrote,"Hindustaan Badhega Tabhi, Jab Padhenge Sabhi! Launching full scholarships for students for higher education. I believe, financial challenges should not stop any one from reaching their goals. Send in ur entries at scholarships@sonusood.me (in next 10 days) & I will reach out to u (sic)."

He launched this fellowship in the name of his mother Late. Saroj Sood. The fellowship is aimed at providing underprivileged students full scholarships for higher education. As per the announcement, those students coming from families whose annual income is less than Rs 2 lakh can apply with ‘good academic record’ being the only criterion.

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