Scribes’ body to stir against govt benefits to ‘select’ journalists

Odisha Sun Times Bureau

Bhubaneswar, Mar 1:

Accusing the Odisha government of discriminatory policy in providing benefits to a select group of journalists, Journalists’ Coordination Committee, a joint forum of Utkal Journalists’ Association (UJA) and Odisha Union of Journalists (OUJ), today decided to launch an indefinite stir in the state.

At a press meet here, secretary general of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), New Delhi, Prasanna Mohanty alleged that the state government had allotted government quarters to a select group of journalists while ignoring the genuine demands of a majority of scribes.

He announced that the scribes across the state would wear black badges during the meetings of chief minister Naveen Pattnaik unless their demands were met.

“The journalists will stage dharna at the district and sub-divisional headquarters”, Mohanty added.

Terming the process being followed by the government to give insurance cover to journalists an eyewash, the Committee alleged that the high power committee constituted by the government had not taken any tangible steps  to look into the demands of journalists till date.

Among others, Pratap Mohapatra, President, UJA, Kailash Nayak, general secretary, OUJ and other senior members of both the unions spoke on the occasion.