CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Information Integrity Desk (TNIID), the new avatar of the fact-checking unit, on Sunday debunked misinformation circulating on social media that the State government was arranging a hall to accommodate children affected by ammai (chickenpox) instead of providing them with vaccinations at hospitals.
Describing the claim as completely false, the desk clarified that the proposed hall at the Anbil Mariamman Temple was intended to accommodate devotees who recover from ammai and visit the temple to offer prayers and fulfil their vows.
In its clarification, the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department said devotees had requested a hall where they could stay and worship at the temple after recovering from the illness.
"Accepting the devotees' request for a hall to stay and worship at the temple as part of fulfilling their prayers and vows after recovering from ammai, the announcement was issued," the department said.
The clarification followed social media posts claiming that arrangements were being made to construct a hall for children affected by ammai, while denying them access to vaccination at hospitals.
The Information Integrity Desk said there was no connection between the proposed facility and vaccination arrangements.
It urged people not to circulate the misleading claim and appealed to social media users to verify information before sharing it.
The desk also reiterated that the proposed hall was based solely on devotees' request and was intended for their stay and worship at the temple.
The Anbil Mariamman Temple is traditionally believed to cure pox and eye diseases, prompting pilgrims to visit for prayers and rituals. Claims suggesting the mandapam would house actively infected patients have been rejected by the minister and the HR&CE Department.