Inaugurating the third annual function of Rayagada Media Club, district Collector Dr Sashi Bhusan Padhi appreciated the roles played by the rural scribes.
The scribes, who ground themselves in the villages, act like messiah of the poor in highlighting their problems before the district administration and helping them find a solution to them.
Responding to the demands of the scribes present in the function, he said that his hands were tied as far as extending the genuine facilities to the journalists like train-bus pass, allotment of land/house, accreditation, etc were concerned. He said these were the prerogatives of the policy makers in Bhubaneswar.
He lamented the position of accredited journalists as there was only one in the entire district. He assured that he would recommend to the Government for more number of scribes to get the accreditation in the district.
He applauded the unity of the reporters of the district and initiatives f the club like insurance, immediate assistance to the next kin of the scribe in case of death and education assistance to the children of the deceased scribe, etc. Journalists like lokanath Panigrahi, KirtiSahu, Gopal Singh Adhikari, Tripati Panigrahi and Gouranga Rout were felicitated. While club president Ram Das lima presided, Nalini Pani gave the vote of thanks.