Odisha Govt’s Financial Incentives For Journalists A Poll Plank, Says Cong

Bhubaneswar: Odisha government’s announcement of financial assistance for working journalists is an election plank, said senior Congress leader and Jeypore MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati.

Speaking to media persons on Saturday, Bahinipati said chief minister Naveen Patnaik had made similar announcement for the journalists before 2019 election. But not a single journalist has benefited from it till date.

Raising his doubt over the government’s intention, the MLA said, “Before the last election, the government announced to provide free education to the children of the journalists, housing loan at the rate of 3% annual interest and Rs 3 lakh for purchasing car, life insurance of Rs 5 lakh and health insurance worth Rs two lakh under the Gopabandhu Sambadika Swasthya Bima Yojana. How many journalists have got any of these benefits?”

“The BJD government has made similar announcement this time in view of the elections in 2024. This aims at only winning good will of the journalists,” he added.

The Congress leader further said it has become a practice of the ruling BJD to make false promises and foregetting all about it after coming to power.

“I want to request the government to implement promises made in the last election if it intends welfare of the journalists,” he said.

It may be noted that Information and Public Relation Minister Pratap Jena said on Thursday announced government’s financial assistance of Rs four lakh to the family in case of his death. Besides, housing loan at 3% interest upto Rs 25 lakh, four-wheeler loan up to Rs 4 lakh and two-wheeler loan upto Rs 50,000 were also announced by the minister.