Challenges Posed by Media Influenced Govt.Decisions During Corona Pandemic
Badal Tah,Odishabarta
Rayagada, November 17: Inaugurating the national press day Collector Sri Saroj Kumar Mishra deliberated that media was a powerful tool to halt the spread of disease during pandemic and it had a great impact on people’s behaviour including Govt. However, the unhealthy competition to provide fast news and rat race among the media sometimes loses its authenticity in the absence of credible information. The administrators, now days, are dumped with over information leading to fewer actions. “Media played a very important role in creating awareness among the general public and in the dissemination of the Government orders/guidelines to the health workers, sanitation workers, including the police at grassroots levels & reporting the COVID cases around the world including the micro status. Violators were quickly taken to task”, said SP Sri Vivekananda Sharma, IPS.
According to Sub-Collector Sri Pratap Pradhan, media showed plights of migrant workers travelling hundreds of miles to reach their homes amid lockdown. So, the Govt decided to aggressively run special shramik trains and realise MGNREGA and other schemes. As the news focussed on Covid-19, the primary focus of Govt was HEALTH. New infrastructures were created, old systems revamped, admn & health personnel were ever alert. Telemedicine system got optimally used. Helpline and virtual treatment were strengthened. Digital India got very active in Govt by using virtual mode of meetings, extensive use of internet, less and less use of paper. Opportunity for Paperless office got created. Teaching was done by virtual mode.
DIPRO Sri Basanta Pradhan said, ”Study shows that the use of internet/social media was the highest, followed by TV news before and during lockdown. Code of conduct/ethics were promulgated by govt to regulate unnecessary news. The use of the internet and TV news increased during the lockdown and the use of newspapers, radio, and magazine declined significantly. Press release by Govt through electronic media and social media like whatsapp, facebook, twitter, instagram, utube, etc was all time high. Mass media started promoting hand hygiene, mask, social distance and other preventive measures with Govt’s advertisement support.”
“Media started constant reporting on Covid which created anxiety among the public, leading to impulsive buying of hand sanitizers, face masks and daily need products. This coverage helped in putting masks and sanitizers under Govt’s essential commodities act. On March 22, India observed Janta curfew the whole day and beat thali (plate) at 5’o clock in support of a call from the Prime Minister of India to motivate health workers. Wide media coverage was given. Negative words spread that we do not need clapping but masks and PPE kits. These reports helped the government in decision making for manufacturing PPE kits. However, the motivation was down by the time as some misinformation was floated like Indians are more immune to the virus; few people were following sadhus who were promoting drinking cow urine.
Steam inhalation was just the beginning; many other local treatments appeared on social media and spread swiftly via messages. Misinformation, stigma and fake news started pouring in. Govt used the Epidemic Act to monitor such news and in few places even arrested the spreaders of these news.
In Rayagada, Zilla Suchana WhatsApp group floated by DIPRO Rayagada provided up-to-date information to media which were further widely shared. Govt personnel including Collector, ADM, SP, CDMO and other officials were very responsive and even alert during midnight. There were few loopholes; but the time was not finding faults. Interface between media and district administration paved the way for special service for media persons and their family members. Media groups in Rayagada provided a platform to people to seek financial or social help from the people & govt. Several media whatsapp and other social media groups of Rayagada got very active in this regard. Good practices of the administration was projected by Rayagada media fraternity. Apart from delivering the professional roles, mediapersons took up several social responsibilities like disbursing water, food, etc to migrating labourers. Referring serious patients affected with Covid and other diseases to higher hospitals was a regular phenomenon in Rayagada.
“Media groups came together and networked in the district & in other districts specifically to combat Covid. Personalised service to affected media persons and their family members were extended. Almost all the media fraternity was united in this direction”, said Sri Goparanjan Buxipatro, who described the plights he went through during covering the stories of agonies faced by the flood affected people, Hirakhand train accident and interface with police & Naxals.
“We also lost a few our members during Corona and extended solidarity with their family members. The district administration was very responsive to forward their cases to higher authorities. During tribute to the deceased members, administration was always with us. In spite of these good stories there are a few things yet to be achieved in the district: Ex-gratia to the next kin-Covid & general deaths, left out journalists in Gopabandhu Insurance scheme, Railway Pass, ID cards, land, press lounge at collectorate, etc. Other entitlements like pension, assistance for children’s education, housing-vehicle-other loans, etc are some issues still to be addressed. Still, the media and district administration worked hand in hand during Corona in the district and will sustain the process for the time to come” said Sri Ranjan Rath. The meeting was moderated by Asstt DIPRO Smt Rashmi Rani Nimaka. Eight very senior reporters of the district were felicitated by the District administration.
