Charity publicity in Covid crisis prohibited

Imphal: Using specially created relief kits with logos, use of loudspeakers mentioning names of donors, house visits by organisations and individuals, putting up banners of individual donors in vehicles in the name of charity during the ongoing pandemic should be stopped immediately, Imphal West district magistrate ordered on Tuesday.

“Any person found violating this order will be penalised under relevant provisions of law,” the order of the district magistrate said.

It said NGOs, civil bodies, clubs, organisations and individuals etc. have started distribution of food items and medical items or covid relief kits in various localities of Imphal West district during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. The act of charity or kindness done in good faith and in solidarity with the masses affected by the pandemic by any person or organisation is a welcome gesture and district administration, Imphal West appreciates the kindness extended in any form.

Such acts of charity in the form of kind or cash is often accompanied with the use of loudspeakers, public gatherings, house to house visits and more importantly the use of specially created relief kits and packages with names of donors etc. for media coverage and social media consumption, it added.

It is felt that the use of media and social media outlets for gaining publicity in the name of charity through use of specially created kits, public gatherings etc. for photography or video coverage is highly undesirable as it defeats and undermines the very purpose and sanctity associated with charity, the order said

It has become imperative to immediately curb and stop such undesirable and emerging trends in the interest of the general public, it added.

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