This Assam cartoonist launches campaign against fake news amid COVID-19 outbreak

Nituparna Rajbongshi in association with Dr Anamika Roy Memorial Trust has launched a cartoon-based campaign across social media platforms to battle fake news being peddled in the wake of Covid-19 outbreak while spreading awareness among the general public about the disease.

Guwahati (Assam):At a time when rumours, false data, fake remedies, and conspiracy theories about the origins of the novel coronavirus have abounded social media platforms, a young cartoonist from Assam has launched a campaign to counter this phenomenon.

A cartoon by Nituparna Rajbongshi asking people to stay home to avoid contraction of coronavirus disease

Nituparna Rajbongshi in association with Dr Anamika Roy Memorial Trust has launched a campaign based on cartoons across social media platforms to battle fake news being peddled in the wake of Covid-19 outbreak while spreading awareness among the general public about the disease.

A cartoon by Nituparna Rajbongshi describing the exploitation of the poor and working class

"Lockdown has too some extent hooked people to social media. Taking advantage of the situation some factions with malafide intention have filled social media platforms with fake news, leaving a negative impact in the society," said Rajbongshi.

A cartoon by Nituparna Rajbongshi depicting people defying social distancing norms amid COVID-19 outbreak

The cartoonist added, “I have been drawing cartoons to make people aware of coronavirus, apart from religious dogmatism, communalism, superstition, etc. Being attached to the disease. I have also tried to highlight the plight of the vulnerable section of people during the lockdown.”

A cartoon by Nituparna Rajbongshi depicting the contrasting plights of the poor and the privileged class

Ankuran Dutta, the founder of Dr Anamika Roy Memorial Trust, said that it is for the first time that a campaign against fake news has been launched in Assam using cartoons.

A cartoon by Nituparna Rajbongshi describing the abuse of earth's resources

"The campaign intends to lay bare the truth for the people and to keep everyone away from fake news and propaganda," Dutta said.

Rajbongshi has also joined hands with a voluntary organisation named “Subham" to generate funds to provide aid to people suffering due to the lockdown, particularly the poor and homeless, through his cartoons.

He said that those who will make donations to the fund will be given one of his cartoons as a token of appreciation.