Clowns bring joy to migrant workers stranded in India

Clowns bring joy to migrant workers stranded in India

Two sisters dressed up as clowns are visiting shelters packed with Indian migrants, trying to bring a moment of levity to poor families stranded in cities where they can no longer afford rent or food.

Clowns at this Indian shelter brought migrant workers a brief moment of joy Location: New Delhi 34-year-old Sheetal Agarwal is a medical clown and a counselor She teamed up with her sister to try and make people laugh (SOUNDBITE) (English) MEDICAL CLOWN AND COUNSELOR, SHEETAL AGARWAL, SAYING:"We are going to cheer them up because we feel that if staying at home we can be so unhappy or so sad and stressed then their level of stress would be very high considering they are not even with their families and they really are worried about the families back home so we thought it would be wonderful if we can bring a smile on their faces and distract them from the pain that they are feeling." Some 650 workers are taking refuge in this sports complex They have lost their jobs in the city and are unable to return to their native villages as transport systems have ground to a halt (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) MIGRANT WORKER AND MOTHER OF NINE-YEAR-OLD-BOY, SUSHEELA KUMARI, SAYING:"Despite such circumstance and at such a time, we are feeling a little bit happy.

For a brief time, my mind is feeling a little bit free, it is getting diverted and I am not thinking about my problems. Otherwise, my only thoughts are about going back home, returning home, and I just feel like crying."