Indian Media Centre State chapter general secretary and Association of Small and Medium Newspapers of India State president Rabi Rath expressed grave concerns over the apathetic attitude of the State Government for not resolving the long pending issues of the working journalists in the State.
Though the State Government has given due consideration to the problems of different sections of the people of the society, it lacks the willpower to solve the problems of the scribes in the State, he rued.
Hundreds of journalists since Independence are working with dedication for the development of the society without any amenities and consideration of their own welfare. The Government has not been sensitive to the ills afflicting the journalists either, he lamented. Realising the importance of the working journalists, former Chief Minister JB Patnaik had declared pension for the journalists in 1980.
Though nearly 35 years have already been elapsed, it has not been implemented as yet, he said. Besides pension, Rath demanded free health insurance, Government accommodation, 50 per cent concession in bus, rail and air tickets, periodical free health check up and free land line telephone, etc.