Bhubaneswar: BJD MLA Goutam Buddha Das has urged the Odisha government to introduce a pension system for journalists.
He pointed out that 17 states already have such a system in place. Das also requested that parents be included in the health insurance scheme for journalists, which currently provides coverage of Rs 5 lakh.
Notably, Gopabandhu Sambadika Swasthya Bima Yojana, the health insurance scheme for working journalists, is currently functioning in the State. The BJD government in 2018 had launched the health insurance scheme for working journalists, which doesn’t cover the parents of the scribes.
Furthermore, he advocated for the establishment of a Press Academy and the implementation of the Journalist Protection Act. Das emphasized the need for a safe and supportive environment for journalists, citing instances of disputes between officers and journalists that hinder news gathering.
