Web Portal Representatives Should Have Equal Benefits Like Other Journalists

The state government has declared journalists a front-line fighter and offered bumper stickers.  In the aftermath of the journalist's death in Corona, he announced a 15 lakh grant to his family.  

 "Only working journalists or working journalists will be vaccinated. In this regard he has written letters to all the DM of the state. Plus 6944 working journalists of Odisha can be benefited through this."  said Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra, Additional Chief Secretary of Odisha Government.

The important thing is why the government does not recognize the most active web portals. Thousands of young men and women are currently working on the web portal after completing their journalism courses.

The web portal is more active during these days than print and electronic media.  But why is the government not allowing them?  Why isn't the government preparing guidelines for them?  People who work on web portals are not journalists? 

If there are special courses for journalism, why not consider them journalists after passing the exam?  On the other hand, in the announcement issued by the government to vaccinate journalists, he made it clear that only media representatives with Gopabandhu health insurance could get the vaccine.

This means that only those people are front-line warriors, then what is the definition of journalism?

The government's definition of journalism has raised questions about whether people working on the web portal fall within that definition? On the other hand, the government has promised to vaccinate the general public free of charge.  Everyone will be vaccinated for free.  Questions have also been raised as to why so many web portal journalists in the state are being excluded?

Some journalists have also complained that the government’s Information and Public Relations Department is deliberately ignoring the web portal journalists.  Journalists from some loyal web portals have also been accused of including health insurance.

Journalists have questioned where the problem lies in including everyone’s health insurance if given to some loyalists.  Even the 'Biju Swasthya Bima Yojana' and the 'Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana' provide up to Rs 4 lakhs to the general public.  But journalists are inferior to him.  This is because of the fact that some of the beneficiaries have only been given a health insurance plan of Rs 2 lakh.

The government considers the journalist to be less than an ordinary person, who has been working day and night as a spokesman for the government and the people.  During today’s epidemic, web media representatives have been warning people in the state and abroad about everything.

Everywhere you look today, the tide of protectionist sentiment is flowing. People are aware of such things within minutes. But it is reprehensible, unfortunate and regrettable that the government ignores that media and its representatives.

The government should immediately instruct the Department of Information and Public Relations in this regard and tighten the rules for web portals.  In addition, many journalists have demanded the immediate registration of journalists working on the web portal and the provision of equal opportunities with others.

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