Over the past few decades, public health emergencies across the globe have shown us that a timely and efficient risk communication plan cou...
Over the past few decades, public health emergencies across the globe have shown us that a timely and efficient risk communication plan could help in minimising fatalities and managing situations on the ground. In unprecedented circumstances such as the Covid-19 pandemic, implementing effective communication methods becomes even more necessary.
At the start of the pandemic, it was critical for the Union government to use all means to convey the gravity of the situation to the public. To do so, several communication plans were devised in order to maximise efficiency while minimising casualties.
In the last one-and-a-half years, the government’s plan for effective communication has been full of botches and has resulted in very few accomplishments.
Unclear message
Let us start with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Janta Curfew” and “Taali, Thaali Bajao’’ initiative. Just when the situation had begun to deteriorate, this mega home-bound event had lowered the severity of the problem. Many individuals treated it as if it were a festival, oblivious to the risk. The unclear message about why one needed to stay at home, created massive confusion.
This had its own set of consequences. In various instances, the curfew ended up with large groups of people congregating to clap/ring bells. Such was not a...
