India’s Ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) has written to all news channels in the country to spread awareness about surging Covid cases and the need for proper precautions.
In a note to TV news channels and their associations, it has said the number of cases of COVID-19 in the country was witnessing an “alarming upward trend” and that the government has worked out a strategy.
“The Hon’ble Prime Minister convened a high- level meeting on 4th April, 2021 to review the emerging situation, following which the Government has decided to focus on the five-fold strategy to deal with the emerging crisis viz., Testing, Tracing, Treatment, COVID appropriate behaviour and Vaccination,” the MIB note states.
It adds: “It is, therefore, imperative that all stakeholders take forward the communication strategy with renewed emphasis on ‘Dawai Bhi, Kadai Bhi’
and vaccination of the eligible age group persons so as to create greater awareness among the citizens of the country.”
MIB urged the news channels that in the larger public interest, it was necessary that the “private channels may appropriately disseminate messages for COVID appropriate behaviour”.