Working journalists of Odisha staged a demonstration on the assembly premises here today, protesting against the delay in addressing their problems.
Journalists covering the state government and assembly had submitted a seven-point charter of demands with the government before commencement of the winter session of the assembly. As the session ended before its scheduled date and their grievances not addressed, the scribes sat on a dharna before Utkalmani Gopabandhu Dash's statue.
Earlier in the day, Information and Public Relations Minister Arun Kumar Sahoo in a statement in the House had said that the government was sympathetically considering the demands made by journalists.
Sahoo, however, said the government would take steps for the welfare of journalists only after the committee headed by Chief Secretary submits it report.
The minister said the committee was of the opinion to amend the Working Journalists and Other Newspaper Employees (conditions of service) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1995, in order to give benefits to journalists not so far recognised by the government.
The scribes, however, alleged that the government was not serious to address their long-standing problems. The agitating journalists also refused to hold further talks with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik unless their demands are met.
The journalists' demands included health insurance, pension after attaining age of 58, government accommodation in the state capital, simplification of norms of the Journalist Welfare Fund.
