Plan is afoot to create a web-portal for people to verify facts and unverified news promptly

The Union Home Ministry has told all States and the Union Territories to take effective measures against fake news in view of the coronavirus pandemic and ongoing lockdown.

The MHA directive comes as a follow up of the Supreme Court taking serious note of the panic caused by the spread of fake news leading to mass movement of migrant labourers, their plight and untold sufferings.

In a direction dated April 1 to the Chief Secretaries of all States, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla has informed that the Centre will soon create a web-portal for people to verify facts and unverified news promptly. The States/UTs have also been requested to create a similar mechanism at their level to deal with local issues.

The Union Home Secretary has also asked the states to submit their Action Taken Report to the ministry to enable it to apprise the Supreme Court.

Earlier, the Supreme Court while considering a writ petition had sought a status report on the steps taken by the Centre for preventing the spread of coronavirus in India.

The Centre had submitted the report on March 31 and the Supreme Court had expressed satisfaction with it. The next date of hearing is on April 7.

The Supreme Court has also made observations and directions to ensure provision of basic amenities such as food, medicines etc in line with Disaster Management Act, Ministry of Home Affairs directives and other welfare activities in relief shelters for migrant labourers.

The States and UTs have also been communicated to comply with the directives, advisories and orders issued by central government in letter and spirit, for containment of spread of Covid-19 in the country.

Courtesy: India Today