Lok Sabha Question No. 2852 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-12
Subject: Promotion of COVID-19 Vaccine Drive
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Arjunlal Meena, Kaushal Kishore

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2852 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.03.2021

## PROMOTION OF COVID-19 VACCINE DRIVE

## 2852.  SHRI ARJUN LAL MEENA: SHRI KAUSHAL KISHORE:

## Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state:

- (a) the measures undertaken and strategy adopted by his Ministry regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and promotion of COVID-19 vaccine drive;
- (b) the  expenditure  made  by  the  Ministry  till  now  on  measures  undertaken  in  the  fight against COVID-19;
- (c) the  expenditure  incurred  by  the  Ministry  to  spread  awareness  about  COVID-19 including  promotion  of  COVID-19  vaccine  drive  for  each  medium  engaged  and  the content developed;
- (d) whether  the  Ministry  has  commissioned  work  to  Non  -  Government  Organizations/ private players in this regard and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether  the  Government  has  received  requests  from  other  Ministries/Government agencies  to  develop  content  related  to  COVID-19  for  advertisement  and  if  so,  the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE; MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING; AND MINISTER OF HEAVY INDUSTRIES AND PUBLIC ENTERPRISES [SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR]

(a) The Ministry has calibrated its communication strategy in a phased manner depending upon the prevailing COVID-19 situation in the country. While the focus during early phase of the pandemic being on the message of 'Stay Home, Stay Safe', it was shifted on the message of  'Jab  Tak  Dawai  Nahi,  Tab  Tak  Dhilai  Nahi'  with  gradual  re-opening  of  the  various sectors. Since the launch of the vaccination drive, messages to build vaccine confidence and address  vaccine  related  disinformation  have  been  disseminated.  To  emphasise  on  the continuous  need  to  observe  precautions,  message  'Dawai  Bhi,  Kadai  Bhi'  is  being disseminated.

Various measures taken in this regard include:

- i. Regular press conferences,
- ii. Daily COVID-19  Bulletin  and  issue of press releases from the Press Information Bureau (PIB).
- iii. Information regarding COVID-19  has  been  disseminated  through  news bulletins, expert based discussion programmes and public service announcements on Doordarshan and All India Radio.
- iv. On  social  media,  a  dedicated  Twitter  handle  @COVIDNewsByMIB  was established for COVID-19 related awareness. Infographics related to COVID19  statistics  on  COVID-19  cases  and  vaccinations,  sensitization  videos,  live web-casting of press conferences, and bytes of experts, doctors and healthcare personnel have been disseminated through social media. With the beginning of the  vaccination  drive,  social  media  campaign  #We4Vaccine'  has  also  been launched.
- v. To counter misinformation related to COVID-19, a dedicated Fact Check Unit was constituted on 2 nd April 2020 in Press Information Bureau (PIB).
- vi. A  dedicated  campaign  'Jan  Andolan  against  COVID-19'  was  launched  by  the Ministry, on 8 th October  2020,  to  promote  COVID-19 appropriate behavior. This campaign was undertaken in coordination with other ministries/Departments as well as State Governments.
- vii. Similar  strategy  was  also  adopted  in  the  various  regions  for  dissemination  of information in vernacular languages.
8. (b) and (c) Separate expenditure details specific to COVID-19 activities is not maintained.

(d) The COVID  Jan  Andolan  Campaign  was  undertaken  on  a participative and collaborative effort in coordination with the various Ministries/ Departments of the Central Government and State Governments.

(e) The  dedicated campaign  'Jan Andolan  Against  COVID-19'  involved  various Ministries/Departments  of  the  Government  of  India  as  well  as  State  Governments.  The campaign  utilized  grass-root  level  functionaries  of  the  various  Ministries/Departments  on various occasions as under:

- i. Wall painting and posters in Panchayat Bhavans
- ii. Outdoor publicity at fertilizer and seed shops, APMCs, mandis, etc.
- iii. Dissemination of messages through Youth Clubs, NYK and NSS volunteers
- iv. Communication using SHGs and training centres
- v. Messages by school teachers, Principals and Head Masters
- vi. Interpersonal Communication through ASHAs, ANMs
- vii. COVID-19 messages on Ambulances, CAT Vans, hospitals, etc.
- viii. Posters, announcements on railway stations
- ix. Messages on flight tickets, boarding passes, etc.
- x. Posters and announcements on airports
- xi. Embedded messages on all Government websites

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