As the country gets ready to celebrate Diwali, only 2 per cent of Indians think that masking compliance around them is effective, while only 3 per cent feel that people in their localities and districts are following the physical distancing norm, according to a survey by LocalCircles, a digital community-based platform. It received over 39,000 responses from over 20,000 citizens in 366 districts, to find how people are complying with masking and distancing protocols during the festive season and travel. Forty-seven per cent of respondents were from tier 1 districts, 30 per cent from tier 2 districts and 23 per cent from tier 3, 4 and rural districts.

On masking, it found that only 2 per cent [down from 13 per cent in September] of respondents said “over 90 per cent” people in their area are compliant. Only 16 per cent [down from 30 per cent in September] respondents said masking compliance is effective at airports, stations and bus stands, etc. Just 3 per cent [down from 6 per cent in September] of respondents said physical distancing compliance is effective in their area, district or city and 9 per cent said physical distancing compliance during travel is non-existent now.