'From Bhangra Pop To Dance Moves,' Cops Across Country Devise Unique Ways To Make People Aware About Covid-19

The coronavirus pandemic seems to be bringing out the creative side of our police personnel across the country as they look for innovative ways of creating engaging awareness campaign. From creating music videos to street plays these cops are leaving no stone unturned to reach out to people.

From creating music videos to street plays these cops are leaving no stone unturned to reach out to people.

New Delhi: The coronavirus pandemic seems to be bringing out the creative side of our police personnel across the country as they look for innovative ways of creating engaging awareness campaign. From creating music videos to street plays these cops are leaving no stone unturned to reach out to people. Punjab police sub-inspector Baljinder Singh recently released a music video to emphasise on precautionary measures to fight coronavirus. The bhangra pop music video has gone viral and earned accolades even from Punjab’s Chief Minister Amarinder Singh who shared the video of the song on his Twitter handle. In the peppy Punjabi number, Singh urges people to protect their elders and children who are vulnerable to the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease) by following the steps recommended by the health authorities. "Desh mere de vasiyo, ek ral ke muhim challayee, iss corona virus utte ethe hi bann laayey (People of the country, we should collectively run a campaign against coronavirus and prevent it from spreading)," sings Singh. He asks people to use masks, sanitisers, and gloves to keep the deadly COVID-19 at bay and urged them to do a 'namaste' from a safe distance. The video of the song is which is written by Assistant Sub-Inspector Partap Paras shows cops giving training to children from the poor strata on how to wear masks, giving sanitisers to the people for use and distributing food and other essential items to the needy. Inspiring people tot fight the virus Singh says in the video, "Is aafat de agge datt ke khadiye, ichcha shakti naal is virus naal ladiye (we should fight this virus with will power)." Watch the peppy video here:  Similar campaigns were undertaken by cops across the country especially after the lockdown was announced and people violated the norms by still wandering on the streets. In Bengaluru, police utilised the power of street theatre to highlight the danger of the virus and breaking quarantine rules. Policemen from Ulsoor Traffic station wore coronavirus shaped helmets and confronted bikers who were violating the lockdown norms. They stopped the bikes and transferred the helmet onto their heads, depicting how the virus spreads. The video of this outdoor activity has since gone viral and the cops earned praise in social media. The Andhra Police personnel in Dhone town of Kurnool district also used theatre for their campaign by hiring local artists and dressing them as Yamraj, Chitragupta and coronavirus and going around the town displaying the effect of the virus. The ‘corona helmet’ was popularised by Chennai police inspector Rajesh Babu who collaborated with a local artist to create a helmet that resembled the shape of the pathogen.  He said he wanted to dissuade people from venturing outside by reiterating the danger of the virus using the helmet with red coloured spikes and bulbs. Police inspector Rajesh Babu (L) wearing coronavirus-themed helmet speaks to a motorist at a checkpoint during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus in Chennai on March 28, 2020. (Photo by Arun SANKAR / AFP) Earlier last month in coronavirus hotspot Kerala, police released a video to show the importance of handwashing to ward off the virus. In the video, they danced to the viral hit Malayalam song Kalakkatha from the film Ayyapanum Koshiyum and showed the steps of washing hands to urge people to ‘Break the Chain’. As the cases of coronavirus increase daily in India and there is a fear of community transmission, it has become necessary to make the message reach as many people as possible. While the police are getting criticised for the recent spate of atrocities against citizens, some of them are using their power for spreading positive messages