Representative Image.

NEW DELHI: In view of Prime Minister's appeal to countrymen to observe a 14-hour 'janata curfew' on Sunday and applaud all those in the forefront of fighting COVID-19 at 5 pm, Union home secretary Ajay Bhalla has written to chief secretaries and administrators of all states/Union territories asking them to widely disseminate the PM's message to the community at large.

He also asked the state governments and UT administrations to advice urban local bodies, panchayati raj institutions, fire services, police services, civil defence and industrial establishments etc to ring a siren at 5 pm for intimation of all citizens.

"During this curfew, no one apart from those involved with essential services is supposed to venture out of home...Hon'ble PM has also mentioned that there are many brave people who are in the forefront of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic like medical staff, police, government servants, airline staff, media persons, bus/train/auto operators and those involved in providing home delivery. To pay gratitude to their selfless service to the nation during such trying times, Prime Minister had desired that on March 22 at 5 pm, all citizens should acknowledge and salute their efforts by standing in the balconies or at the doors of their houses and clap or ring bells for five minutes as a show of appreciation," Bhalla advised the chief secretaries/administrators.

Bhalla asked the states/UTs to intimate the action taken to the home ministry by email.

