The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued an advisory on June 3rd to all private General Entertainment (non-news) television channels to promote awareness of six national level helpline numbers by way of a ticker or such appropriate ways as they may consider at periodical intervals, especially during prime time.
The numbers include National Helpline number of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (1075), Child Helpline number of Ministry of Women and Child Development (1098), Senior Citizens Helpline of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (14567) (NCT Delhi, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand), helpline number of NIMHANS for psychological support (08046110007), Ayush Covid-19 Counselling Helpline (14443) and MyGov Whatsapp Helpdesk (9013151515).
The advisory has highlighted that over the last several months, the Government has created awareness through various instrumentalities and media platforms, including print, TV, Radio, social media, etc., for creating awareness on the three critical issues – COVID treatment protocol, COVID appropriate behavior and Vaccination.
The advisory credited private TV channels for having played an important role in supplementing the efforts of the Government in fighting this epidemic by creating awareness and informing people about the aforementioned three issues. It has urged that in order to further this cause, the private TV general entertainment (non-news) channels are advised to promote awareness of the six national level helpline nos.
