The Indian government spent Rs. 25 lakh (Rs. 25,00,000) on banners and hoardings at prominent places to celebrate the milestone of reaching 100 crores (one billion) COVID-19 vaccination doses in the country.

The amount of Rs. 25 lakh was spent via the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s Bureau of Outreach and Communications (BOC), the government said in Rajya Sabha or the Upper House of Parliament, PTI reported.

Meanwhile, when asked whether BOC had reduced support of advertisement to the print media during the last two years, MIB Minister Anurag Thakur on Tuesday told Lok Sabha (Lower House) that awareness campaigns through different media vehicles, including print media, were carried out as per the requirements of the various government departments and the budget of campaigns.

The Minister further added that the amount committed for advertisements by the government through print and electronic media during the period 2018-19 to 2020-21 was Rs. 827.08 crore and Rs. 871.90 crore, respectively.

BOC has undertaken various strategies to rationalize advertisement expenditure, including integrated campaign, theme-based campaign, increased emphasis on low-cost advertisements on digital platforms, using less print space with focused content, embedding information using QR Code, better positioning of campaigns for target beneficiaries, etc., Thakur added.