A viral audio clip recorded by a man identified as Suresh Kochattil is doing the rounds on social media. Kochattil, through the course of an approximately 13-minute-long audio clip suggests that the majority affected by the Kerala floods primarily comprised of rich people, who belong to the middle-class and upper middle-class. He goes on to talk about how the rural population makes up only five to ten percent of those affected. He encourages people to refrain from donating money and other supplies as they are not required. Kochattil, who is associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), talks about the dire need for manual labor to help fix and renovate houses that have been damaged, he adds that if people want to offer monetary help, they must do so via a reliable source such as Seva Bharathi, which is affiliated to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
Many have been disgruntled and rightly so by Kochattil’s views. Dhanya Rajendran, editor-in-chief of The News Minute, in an open letter on Facebook addressed to Kochattil, advised people to not share such messages without verifying the authenticity of the source.
Kochattil used Facebook to respond to the criticism his recording received as well.
The power of the internet and social media seem to have been harnessed for good as thousands have rallied in support of Kerala during this dire situation. Platforms like Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Whatsapp have been widely used to facilitate the exchange of information regarding rescue operations, collection and distribution of funds and resources among those affected by the floods. And together, the mediums have managed to bring together individual and community efforts across state and international borders.
But when the exchange of news is so rapid, verification will always take a backseat. The yin and yang of information and misinformation seem to go hand-in-hand and things are no different in times of crisis. The circulation of the latter is already causing serious unwarranted challenged for the state under siege. Many are misusing the reach and power of social media with instances of people using the floods as an opportunity to spread hate, propaganda, further certain political views and distorting facts about the situation in Kerala coming to the forefront.
Another such instance of fake news is a video released by an imposter claiming to be from the Indian Army. The video shows the man being disapproving of the Kerala Government’s relief efforts and encouraging people to not make any donations. Shortly after the video went viral the Additional Directorate General of Public Information, Indian Army (ADG PI - Indian Army) used Twitter to clarify that the person featured in the video was an imposter. In a similar situation, an audio recording of a man falsely claiming that the Mullaperiyar dam was leaking and would soon collapse resulting in the complete submersion of Ernakulam, went viral and caused immense panic.
Quite a few incidents, wherein the sensitivity of the situation has been used as an opportunity to promote certain political and religious views and beliefs, have come to light. It ranges from members of Hindu Makkal Katchi (a Hindu nationalist political party based in Tamil Nadu) blaming women who entered the Sabarimala temple for the floods, to people on social media calling the floods a result of people eating beef in Kerala. A cartoon published in The Times of India calling citizens out on being irresponsible about environmental conservation and a satirical piece titled “Kerala Flood: Man refuses to accept a Saffron life jacket, dies as a result” too is an example of insensitive and untimely flow of information that people of Kerala have to deal with at such a trying time.
Changing thought processes, altering people’s perception, and encouraging sensitivity are goals better left for a later date. What can be curbed though is the flow of unnecessary and inaccurate information.
Following are official Twitter handles operated by the government:
National Disaster Response Force (@NDRFHQ)
Indian Navy (@indiannavy)
Press Information Bureau (@PIB_India)
Chief Minister of Kerala (@CMOKerala)
Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard)
These are trusted sources of information and can be tracked for reliable information.
Additionally, QKopy is an app based out of Kozhikode. This social networking app was used during the Nipah virus threat in Kerala in order to relay information efficiently. As told to Business Standard “The app, available for both the iPhone and the Google operating systems, works based on the telephone number of the user. However, it is currently designed as a one-way communication system which would help an entity or a person to broadcast to any number of people who have saved the particular mobile number to their phone, through the app”. The Kozhikode City Traffic Police is currently using the app to help people navigate through the city as most roads are blocked owing to the heavy rainfall.
So what can you do?
Read the message/article. Read it again - read it out loud and be mindful. Does it sound real? Could it be true? Google it, ask someone else. Find other legitimate publications articles regarding the same. Verify it to a point that you are comfortable with it, before you forward on a lie that could in the future have tremendous, violent consequences. It’s better not to forward a message than to share false information that has real world implications for countless other individuals.
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