For years, people in the west side of the country have been facing water scarcity and droughts. Because of this, the women in those areas have to walk several kilometers every day in the scorching heat to fetch water.
Actor Akshay Kumar, in an attempt to understand the plight of these women, walked 21 kms on a treadmill as part of a network’s initiative towards water conservation and hygiene called “Mission Paani Waterthon” held on January 26.
Following this, the actor was faced with a lot of criticism. Netizens criticized him saying that walking several kilometers in the heat to fetch water everyday cannot be compared to walking some kms on a treadmill on stage, calling it “armchair activism”. Many people have said that his actions have been like an insult to the women of these rural areas who face numerous difficulties, walking in temperatures as high as 40 degrees.
Filmmakers Hansal Mehta and Neeraj Ghaywan also took to social media site Twitter to criticized the move.
“I switched on the air conditioner all night at 16 degrees. To understand how our farmers braved it out in the cold,” tweeted Mehta.
“Do physical labor at the farm. Come home to cook, clean, feed kids and rear animals. Get beaten up by frustrated drunk husbands at night. At dawn, walk miles to fetch water in huge vessels. Repeat. Treadmill? It's a roller coaster jolly ride!” tweeted Ghaywan.