Information Gap during pandemic as Administration Stops Daily Press Conference on COVID-19

Vikramaditya
Port Blair, July 07: Under the direction of the Chief Secretary of Andaman and Nicobar Administration, Mr. Jitendre Narain, the Secretary of IP&T, Mr. Sunil Kumar Singh had started the trend of interacting with media persons on daily basis to share latest information regarding COVID-19 with general public directly and also to clear all doubts and misconception on crucial issues.
Only because of this move people used to get updated information regarding development in COVID-19 scenario on daily basis that too right from senior officers of A & N Administration like the Secretary IP, Secretary Health and Deputy Commissioners etc.
But now it has been observed that since last two days the Press Conference has been cancelled and it has been informed to local media persons that the Press Conference has been cancelled till further order. “There will be no press conference till further order,” a message from IP Division informed media persons.
This move will certainly create a huge gap of information between the Administration and General Public, especially among those who are living in far flung Islands.
It should be noted that although some relaxations has been given to the public in all Districts but still Lockdowns are in place in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. There are still containment zones and threat of third wave COVID-19 is also looming large, as per national media inputs.
The Secretary of IP&T, A & N Administration was unreachable to comment on this issue over phone, which again shows why such daily and direct interaction with media is important during the time of pandemic.
When contacted the President of Daily Newspaper Association of A & N Islands, Mr. K Ganeshan said that daily press conference was of huge benefit for general public as readers used to get correct dose of information daily and such interaction was very effective against misinformation and fake new. “The daily press conference must continue atleast till lockdowns and containment zones are in place. The Chief Secretary and Secretary IP&T of A & N Administration had started an excellent trend of daily press meet for dissemination of correct information to public and this must continue in larger interest of Public,” Mr. Ganeshan added.