Prime Minister Narendra Modi motivated Indias billion-plus population to stay home during the nationwide lockdown despite high economic and social costs, finds a Cambridge analysis.The University of Cambridge did an analytical study on the Indian governments communications on Covid-19 to the media and the people.
The study found that consistent nudges by Prime Minister Narendra Modi played a crucial role in influencing people to stay home and follow other restrictions during the lockdown.The analysis titled, India nudges to contain Covid-19 pandemic: A reactive public policy analysis using machine-learning based topic modelling, indicated how PM Modis frequent nudges helped the nation adhere to the strict nationwide lockdown.
| Modi at 70: Hit by Covid - China storms, but not losing political groundThe populist prime minister frequently nudged the nation on staying at home, adhering to lockdown rules, improving immunity through yoga and ayurveda and contributing to the PM-CARES fund.
A herd effect was created through such nudges where public participation and micro-donations led the fight against Covid-19.
Similar nudges for micro-donations through herd effect was also seen in other critical sectors like the manufacturing, commerce, power, construction and pharma, the analysis states.The study was published in the journal PLOS ONE on 11 September.
The study extensively analysed press releases issued by the government of India through the public information bureau.PMO at forefront of Covid-19 crisisThe Prime Ministers Office (PMO) was at the forefront of the fight against coronavirus during the initial months of lockdown.
Prime Minister Narendra Mods nudges were driving the Covid preparedness, action and mitigation strategies in the country, stated the report.His (PM Modi) frequent public appearance was the most significant factor that created nudges in keeping a country of 1.3 billion people under strict lockdown and social distancing measures.
In this process, the PMO spearheaded the creation of Prime Ministers Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES Fund) for dealing with emergency or distress situation like posed by Covid-19 pandemic.
PM-CARES was created to nudge the public into micro-donations and show the strength of public participation to mitigate any issue, the report added.
| 77% Indians satisfied with PM Modi's handling of Covid-19 crisis, shows MOTN surveyThe study also suggested that a herd effect that was created through media messaging.
Most of the nudges were in the form of social media advertisements, SMS forwards and repeated reminders through broadcasting media, it said.The PMO created Covid-19 Economic Response Task Force to deal with the economic challenges caused by the pandemic.The report said that Prime Minister (PM) also asked the business community and higher-income groups to look after the economic needs of those from lower-income groups and urged them not to cut their salary on the days they are unable to render services due to inability to come to the workplace.
PM Modi stressed on the importance of humanity during such times.Policy nudges to fight Covid-19By March, the policy narratives shifted to imposing hard restrictions on travel, and people were discouraged from visiting crowded and public spaces.Strict social distancing nudges were being imposed as reactive policy.
At the same time, MoHFW began to increase testing capacity across the country and on March 25, 2020, Phase 1 of lockdown began.People were nudged constantly during this phase to strictly adhere to the lockdown rules, use masks and wash hands frequently.Manufacturing units were asked to produce PPE, hand sanitiser and masks to meet the national demand.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) was the nodal agency for coordinating with press and MoHFW concerning the development regarding Covid-19 pandemic.
It started daily briefing on government policies and preparedness on fighting coronavirus.The policy nudges for April were directed towards strengthening the Covid-19 specific healthcare requirements.
Increasing the number of testing done per 1000 people was one of the significant agenda along with the social distancing measures.This phase was also marked by innovation in indigenous science and technology for empowering frontline working to fight Covid-19 (see Tables 7 and 8).
During this period, policy nudges were also towards ensuring food security and availability of essential items and medicines across the nation.
Masks were made compulsory at public spaces across the nation.Also Watch | Atmanirbhar Bharat, coronavirus vaccine, more: PM Modi's message to India on Independence Day