Odisha Includes Journos As Frontline Workers; Orders Rs 15L Ex-gratia

The Odisha government on May 2 recognized the state’s working journalists as frontline workers amid COVID battle. Announcing Rs 15 lakh ex-gratia for the kins of COVID-19 infected deaths of scribes, CM Naveen Patnaik informed of covering 6,944 journalists under the Gopabandhu Sambadika Swasthya Bima Yojana. Under the scheme, the government will provide health insurance cover of Rs 2 lakh. Notably, over 11 journalists have succumbed to COVID-19 in state.