MLAs demand welfare schemes for journalists in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Cutting across party lines, MLAs on Wednesday demanded fulfillment of various demands of working journalists in Odisha.

The issue was raised during the Zero Hours of the Assembly by BJD member Samir Ranjan Dash. He demanded pension and health insurance schemes for journalists of Odisha as many other states have already implemented the schemes for the benefit of scribes.

Dash was supported by his party colleague Amar Prasad Satpathy, Prafulla Samal, Pravat Biswal, Sanjeev Sahu, D S Mishra, Ramesh Chandra Chayupatnaik, Mahesh Sahoo and Priyadarshi Mishra.

MLAs expressed concern over the non-fulfilment of genuine demands of working journalists.

They demanded immediate provision of health insurance and pension facilities for journalists working in the state.

BJD MLA Prafulla Samal said, “It is unfortunate that the state government is yet to identify and give recognition to journalists. They are not being given minimum facilities like pension and health insurance for their social security.”

Congress chief whip Taraprasad Bahinipati said while the state government had announced to bring a policy for the welfare of journalists in 2013, it is yet to work on the policy.