Foreign Immigration Confused At PM Modi's Pic On Indians' Vaccine Certificate
Indian Covid vaccination certificates carry the image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While we may be used to this, other countries are suspecting Indians of fraud for having Modi's face on their personal vaccination certificates. Read on!
Indian PM Narendra Modi has been subjected to a lot of ire for plastering his face on Covid-19 vaccination certificates of all Indians getting inoculated across the country. Now, few reports are emerging of foreign immigration officers suspecting Indian travellers heading to international waters of alleged identity fraud.
Agencies
Why, you ask? Simply because the Indian government thought it would be a great idea to have PM Modi's face on the vaccination certificate.
How COVID-19 vaccination works in India
Once you receive the first dose of any Covid vaccine in India, the government commissions a provisional certificate of vaccination. After complete vaccination with two doses, one may access their vaccination certificate on the CoWin website, Aarogya Setu, or through the MyGov Corona Helpline on WhatsApp.
Regardless, the certificate might receive the eye-roll treatment at immigration if you're planning to travel to a different country.
Also read: You Can Now Book Vaccination Slots On WhatsApp: How It Works
According to a report by Vice News, many travellers are being suspected of fraud after showing their official vaccination certificates. Vice lists out a series of instances whereby Indian travellers were suspected of producing counterfeit certificates.
Deepti Tamhane, who was on her way to London in July was halted at Frankfurt airport after showing the certificate to authorities.
They were aghast at seeing the picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the bottom of the certificate. Tamhane had to explain to them that they were correct in concluding that the image wasn't hers, and went on to explain to them how the image was of Indian PM Modi.
Read the Facebook post by Tamhane below:
While this may not shock Indians, foreign nationals may find the idea hard to digest. After all, our politicians don't shy away from putting their faces on large hoardings.
A comparison of vaccination cards from around the world show how Indian certificates stand out with the image of Narendra Modi at the bottom of the sheet. Naturally, the risk of counterfeit vaccines and certificates being circulated is much higher in India than western countries where the vaccination cards are straightforward and tiny.
Also read: How People Over Age 18 Can Register For COVID-19 Vaccination In India
Even then, a plain certificate carrying the details of the vaccine, its batch number and the dates of both doses would do the job as well as an expansive certificate with invocations of defeating COVID-19.
This is what the vaccination certificate looks like:
Took 2nd dose of #COVISHIELD. Fully vaccinated now.
¡ª Priyanka (Astrology Guidance) (@AstroAmigo) August 17, 2021
If you have not taken vaccination yet, please go today and take your dose. Help in fight against #COVID19.
Final certificate was instantly downloadable from Aarogya Setu app after vaccination. Thanks @narendramodi ji. pic.twitter.com/7JmVrOIQUq
Naturally, Twitter had a field day as soon as the report by Vice News went viral. A user demanded answers as to why PM Modi's image should be affixed on a vaccine certificate he had to pay for. Mind you, vaccines are now free for everyone aged 18 and above.
Just a question, why should my vaccine certificate have Modi¡¯s photo when I have paid for my vaccine myself?
¡ª Sharad12265 (@Sharad122651) August 14, 2021
Why Mr. PM's photo in COV19 vaccination certificate , why not individuals #CovidVaccine @narendramodi @PMOIndia
¡ª Atanu Mondal (@AtanuMondal81) August 21, 2021
Another user used the opportunity to lash out at PM Modi. Read below:
Modi¡¯s photo on the vaccine certificate has been the subject of much debate as India became probably the first and only country whose head of state is using the vaccination drive as an opportunity to promote himself and his politics. @PMOIndia #india @toi
¡ª ronak Vora (@ronakvora091) August 21, 2021
Another concerned citizen was worried about the jokes being cracked at India's expense.
@mansukhmandviya @narendramodi
¡ª MUKUND KETKAR (@KetkarMukund) August 22, 2021
Photo of prime minister Shri Narendra Modi on focus vaccination certificate has become matter of sattire. Please replace it with photo of certificate holder.
For comparison's sake, here's how certificates look in other countries:
Wily cruel treacherous Modi not removing his image from vaccinaton certificate I will not gate vaccination for covid pic.twitter.com/06JRUox3NO
¡ª Hemant D Chaudhari (@hdamodarc) August 14, 2021
Another user suggested PM Modi's image to be used on basically... everything!
Why on Vaccination Certificate only ? Modi's photo should now be printed on Birth Certificate, Death Certificate, PanCard, Aadhar Card, Driving License, Credit card, Debit card, Ration card, Passport, Voter Card, Visiting Cards, Green Cards, Big Bazar Profit club card, add more..
¡ª Manas Ranjan Sahoo (@mrsahoo13) August 13, 2021
Another pointed out the merits of having the country's leader on the certificate of personal health identity information.
That vaccine certificate photo is actually helping in some cases, my friend said the old in their villages were willing to take the vaccine as they trust modi and he himself is old. Given he enjoys high trust, it¡¯s acting like a totem.
¡ª . (@Raven_krishna) August 14, 2021
Reddit, never far behind, couldn't miss out on the fun!
Another Reddit user had a better solution: A disclaimer!
One coder found a way to replace PM Modi's pic
Then there was that hack posted by a Reddit user earlier this year -- when Covid-19 vaccinations opened up for the 18-44 age group -- when more people started noticing the digital proof of vaccination and PM Modi's smiling pic on the certificate, remember?
Reddit
A coder on Reddit found a way to replace PM Modi's pic on the vaccination certificates issued by the government with the image of the Indian flag. The script was made by the user who goes by the name @glorious_albus in the r/India subreddit, with step-by-step instructions on his GitHub to implement the hack.
Read More: Guy's Code Switches Modi's Face On Vaccine Certificate To Indian Flag: Here's How
Have you vaccinated yourself yet and seen your vaccine certificate through CoWin or Aarogya Setu App? What are your views on PM Modi's picture appearing in the Covid-19 vaccination certificates? Discuss in comments below, and keep visiting Indiatimes.com for your daily dose of technology news.
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