Ensure Supply of Newspapers, Information Crucial: Centre to States

Ensure “operational continuity” of print and electronic media in view of coronavirus outbreak, the Centre directed.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting urged all states and Union Territories to ensure "operational continuity" of print and electronic media in view of coronavirus outbreak.

In a letter to the chief secretaries of all states and Union Territories on Monday, 23 March, the ministry said robust and essential information dissemination networks like TV channels, news agencies "are of utmost importance to ensure timely and authentic information dissemination".

Noting that proper functioning of these networks is required not only to create awareness among people but also keep the nation updated of the latest status, the letter said false and fake news need to be avoided.

"...good practices need to be promoted and these networks play a pivotal role in ensuring the same," it said.

Government asks States/UTs to ensure operational continuity of Print and Electronic Media in view of threat of #COVID2019 outbreak.#IndiaFightsCorona #coronaupdatesindia pic.twitter.com/Okzj7dsLus

— PIB India (@PIB_India) March 24, 2020

Newspaper Supply Disrupted Since Sunday

Newspapers stopped being delivered in Mumbai, following the ‘janata curfew’ on Sunday, 22 March.

Today, March 24, there will be no physical edition of Hindustan Times in Mumbai. Restrictions aimed at preventing the spread of Covid-19 have made it difficult for our distribution partners to deliver newspapers. However, we do have today's e-paper: https://t.co/6LlDs1zsUk

— Sachin Kalbag (@SachinKalbag) March 24, 2020

The problem with papers in Maharashtra lockdown is (rightfully) so severe that the hawkers who distribute the paper, are unable to commute and do their job. Let’s hope we find a solution to this soon. https://t.co/WpczxRT8GK

— Anant Goenka (@anantgoenka) March 24, 2020

Newspapers like Deccan Chronicle, which operates in the south, have announced that they will suspend their print editions till 31 March.

The regular supply is also affected in parts of Delhi NCR, Kolkata and Chennai, as on Tuesday, 24 March. In Bengaluru, however, there has been regular delivery of the newspapers.

Services to Also Include TV Channels, News Agencies

The letter urged the state governments and Union Territory administrations to facilitate operational convenience of the services.

The services include TV channels, news agencies, teleport operators, Digital Satellite News Gathering (DSNG), Direct to Home (DTH) and Highend-in-the Sky (HITS), Multi System Operators (MSOS), cable operators, Frequency Modulation (FM) radio and Community Radio Stations (CRSS).

“The facilities should be permitted to be manned by the staff of the service providers and the movement of the accredited staff of services providers be permitted,” it said.

It also said the movement of vehicles carrying media persons, DSNGs and others including provisioning of fuel, where-ever required may kindly be facilitated; and availability of uninterrupted electric supply and other logistics as requested by such facilities be provided.

(With inputs from PTI)