Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has provided seven welfare facilities for working journalists in the state, which include Rs 4 lakh financial assistance to the family in the event of a journalist’s death, as informed by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi in the state assembly on Thursday.
Responding to a question from Daspalla MLA Ramesh Chandra Behera, CM Majhi stated that seven welfare facilities are being provided to working journalists in electronic media, print media, and social media in the state.
He also mentioned that the seven welfare facilities provided to journalists are:
- The Odisha Working Journalists Health Insurance Scheme-2016, which has been introduced to provide health insurance to working journalists. In addition, medical assistance is being provided as per the prescribed norms.
- In the case of the death of a working journalist, the next of kin is provided with Rs 4,00,000 as per the eligibility criteria. Similarly, there is a provision for monthly assistance of Rs 1,500 and Rs 2,500 for the school and higher education of the children of deceased journalists, respectively. A provision has been made to provide Rs 2 lakh each to permanently disabled journalists.
- It is recommended that the concerned authorities provide accommodation facilities at government rates in the Odisha residence in Delhi, Utkal Bhawan in Kolkata, Odisha Bhawan in Mumbai, and government post offices.
- It is recommended that the Railway Authorities provide necessary passes to unaccredited journalists for discounted rail travel.
- Arrangements have been made for state-level journalists to travel to Puri to collect Rath Yatra details.
- A compassionate assistance of Rs 15 lakh has been provided to the families of any working journalist who died due to a COVID-19 infection while performing their duties.
- It is recommended that the Home Department issue Secretariat passes to journalists.
He also stated that the government has taken note of the proposals submitted by various press associations for the welfare of working journalists in the media. Their needs will be examined, and steps will be taken accordingly.
