The state and central governments have issued coronavirus helpline numbers to provide all kinds of assistance to people practising home quarantine. Citizens can dial the given number and request for food, medicines or any kind of help during the lockdown.
Below is a list of state and Union Territory-wise public helpline numbers for #COVID19.
Please share it widely.#CoronaVirusUpdates#COVID2019India pic.twitter.com/qVZQNWMire
— Spokesperson, Ministry of Home Affairs (@PIBHomeAffairs) March 28, 2020
The Uttar Pradesh government also handles a lot of queries daily, but yesterday, they had to handle a ‘snacky’ emergency. The district magistrate (DM) office of UP’s Rampur district received a call from a person from Rampur’s Swar tehsil requesting them to deliver four samosas and chutney to his house, reports TOI.
DM Aunjaneya Kumar Singh in a tweet from his official handle said that the person had harassed the control room by repeatedly making the unnecessary demand.
4 समोसा भिजवा दो… चेतावनी के बाद आखिर भिजवाना ही पड़ा।
अनावश्यक मांग कर कंट्रोल रूम को परेशान करने वाले व्यक्ति से सामाजिक कार्य के तहत् नाली सफाई का कार्य कराया गया। pic.twitter.com/88aFRxZpt2— DM Rampur (@DeoRampur) March 29, 2020
Hence, they had to send the samosas. However, the hot samosas were accompanied by a punishment, obviously for harassing the officials and wasting their time. The man was told to clean the nearby drain as his punishment.
नाली साफ कर सामाजिक कार्य में योगदान देकर प्रशासन को सहयोग देते व्यवस्था का दुरुपयोग करने वाले व्यक्ति।
राष्ट्रीय आपदा के समय आप सभी का सहयोग प्रार्थनीय है।
जिम्मेदार नागरिक बनें।
स्वस्थ रहें। सुरक्षित रहें। pic.twitter.com/4vMMp97OLp— DM Rampur (@DeoRampur) March 29, 2020
Earlier, a caller urged them to deliver pizza to his place. An official said:
“We are receiving several calls on our helpline number in which people are asking for pizzas and samosas. So, now we have started publicly shaming such people to discourage others who are making fun of this pandemic.”
People have also sent TikTok videos on their WhatsApp helpline number, mocking the provisions. Hence, the authorities decided to teach these pranksters a lesson by making them clean areas in the vicinity.
कंट्रोल रूम के व्हाट्सएप नं० 9045299525 की सुविधा का टिक टॉक वीडियो भेजकर इस तरह मजाक बनाया जा रहा है। अब कंट्रोल रूम इन सब लोगों को जनपद रामपुर के साफ-सफाई के कार्य में लगायेगा।
तैयार हो जाइये। pic.twitter.com/Rq9rLNonOo— DM Rampur (@DeoRampur) March 29, 2020
The DM also said that people who don’t fall in the BPL category (eligible for free food) are also calling the control room and requesting them to provide them with free cooked food and ration. Annoyed by their irresponsible behaviour, the authorities started shaming them online by sharing their pictures with the faces blacked out to protect their privacy. The DM urged people to not test the patience of the administration.
बार बार अनुरोध करने के उपरांत भी यह देखने में आया है कि लोग सम्पन्न होने के बावजूद भी मुफ्त खाना,मुफ्त राशन जैसी फरमाइशें कर रहे हैं। हमें मजबूरन कुछ फोटोज प्रकाशित करने पड़ रहे हैं। प्रशासन आपकी सेवा के लिए है। प्रशासन के धैर्य की परीक्षा न लें|हमारा सहयोग करें।
स्वस्थ रहें pic.twitter.com/QoNnd87LCn— DM Rampur (@DeoRampur) March 29, 2020
He further said that if people continue to make such requests and waste their time, they’ll start showing their faces too.
अभी बस एक और अपील है। हमें मजबूर न किया जाए। वरना आपदा को मजाक समझने वालों के चेहरे दिखाने ही पड़ेंगे।
— DM Rampur (@DeoRampur) March 29, 2020
Such instances only point out how serious we are during this time of crisis. The helpline numbers are set up to help us, not cater to our useless demands and waste the authority’s time. Let’s not misuse these facilities, rather support them in handling the situation with ease.