Highlights
- Delhi Police has placed coronavirus lookalike ‘scarecrows’ in Chandni Mahal
- Scarecrow with a face mask on gives the message of ‘stay at home’
- Scarecrow also has a coronavirus theme helmet on his head
New Delhi: In yet another innovative way, Delhi Police is giving the message of ‘stay at home’ and raising awareness around the infectious disease COVID-19 through ‘scarecrows’. In Chandni Chowk’s Chandni Mahal area, Delhi Police has placed coronavirus lookalike ‘scarecrows’ in order to re-establish the message that venturing out of the house is dangerous and in bid to protect oneself from contracting the Novel Coronavirus, one should stay at home only and follow the lockdown.
The ‘scarecrow’ clad in full sleeves clothes, sunglasses and a face mask has a coronavirus theme helmet on his head. While in one hand, the scarecrow is holding the coronavirus, in other hand, it holds the message board that reads ‘stay at home’ in Hindi.
Delhi Police have placed 'scarecrows' with the message of 'stay home' at several places in Chandni Mahal area, amid #CoronaLockdown. DCP(Central District), Sanjay Bhatia says,"We have put up these scarecrows to make people understand that roaming outside is dangerous". (30.04.20) pic.twitter.com/B56M3eZjBd
— ANI (@ANI) April 30, 2020
Talking about the motive behind installing scarecrows, Station House Officer (SHO), Chandni Mahal, Binod Kumar who was under self-quarantine told ANI,
We have installed these scarecrows in Chandni Mahal area to make people aware of the coronavirus threat. The scarecrow is coronavirus-lookalike with a message. We are hoping to get some positive reaction.
On April 27, to reinstate the message of ‘stay home, stay safe’, Delhi Police took the help of a local artist who dressed up as a Yamraj, God of death, to appeal to people to stay indoors. Delhi Police’s Yamraj took rounds of RK Puram locality and created awareness by the way of instilling fear in people. Yamraj said, “Delhiites, I am giving you the warning, again; if you love your life, stay inside your home and stay safe. Otherwise, coronavirus, my messenger, will take you to yamlok (hell).”
दिल्ली की सड़कों पर घुम रहा है यमराज ! दिल्ली पुलिस दिलवा रही है यमराज से चेतावनी । #कोरोंनावाइरस #stayhomedelhi ???? pic.twitter.com/jFU1wj6WWd
— Neeta Sharma (@NEETAS11) April 28, 2020
Police officials across the country have been resorting to creative ways to raise awareness among citizens about the Coronavirus and asking them to adhere to the lockdown. Earlier in April, Srikalahasti Police in Andhra Pradesh’s Chittoor district painted on roads, urging people to stay at home to beat the novel coronavirus. The drawing on the road had a house covered with chain and big lock depicting people living inside their house during a lockdown. The drawing was accompanied with a message, “Stay home, stay safe. Let’s break and beat coronavirus.”
Mumbai Police, usually known for its humorous and quirky content on social media, is giving out the message in a filmy way. For instance, on April 30 referring to actor Irrfan Khan, who died of colon infection the previous day, the post shared by Mumbai Police gave two options – loitering during lockdown and Irrfan Khan movie marathon at home. The options were accompanied with Irrfan Khan’s photo disapproving the former option and nodding to the later one.
Re-Meme-Bering Irrfan
You have given the world many ways & means to keep you alive in our memories! #RememberingIrrfan #StayHome #StaySafe #TributeToTheLegend #RIPIrrfanKhan pic.twitter.com/cxQfmrcKOA
— Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) April 30, 2020
In another post, Mumbai Police deployed word play around online games like PUBG, microblogging site platform Instagram, online streaming platform Netflix and others. One of the posts inspired by PUBG had a question, ‘PUB?’ and a response ‘G Nahin’ (no).
Stay home. Download some hAppIness #TakingOnCorona pic.twitter.com/Bbj5ifSMeo
— Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) April 24, 2020
Kolkata Police officials modified a song from Satyajit Ray’s film Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne to spread awareness about COVID-19. In a video shared by Kolkata Police on Twitter, several cops wearing masks and gloves were seen singing their rendition of the song. In the same video, residents were seen enjoying the performance by the police officials.
[corona_data_new]‘Goopy-Bagha' in fight against Corona!
Yet another musical effort by KP personnel at Rabindra Sarobar PS area to enliven another stressful day of fellow citizens with a deftly modified song from the iconic Satyajit Ray movie ‘Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne’ pic.twitter.com/BGq2EEhMMV
— Kolkata Police (@KolkataPolice) April 4, 2020
