Key Points:
- Odisha’s Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik who declared the Journalists of the state as Frontline COVID-19 Warriors.
- Rs. 15 Lakh ex gratia is also being provided to the family of the journalists who unfortunately lost lives while performing duty amidst the Covid-19 situation.
- States that have declared Journalists as Frontline Workers:
- WEST BENGAL
- MADHYA PRADESH
- PUNJAB
- BIHAR
- UTTARAKHAND
- ODISHA
The coronavirus cases in the country are rapidly increasing and amidst this, every news from almost every corner of the world is being delivered to the general public who are sincerely following the COVID-19 protocols by sitting home.
Just like the other Covid Warriors, Journalists are also facing the brunt of the covid-19 virus in order to give us the news about the surroundings. Keeping this in mind, Chief Ministers of various states have decided to give Journalism the status of ‘FRONTLINE WORKERS’. Not only this, but also give them a priority in the Vaccination drive.
Recently, it was Odisha’s Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik who declared the Journalists of the state as Frontline COVID-19 Warriors.
6,944 journalists active in the state will be benefitted by this decision taken by the Odisha government.
A statement from CMO stated, “Approving a proposal to this effect, the Chief Minister said working journalists are doing a great service to the state by providing seamless news feed, making people aware on issues relating to Covid at this very trying times, and they are a great support for our war against Covid-19.”
Rs. 15 Lakh ex gratia is also being provided to the family of the journalists who unfortunately lost lives while performing duty amidst the Covid-19 situation.
4 journalists during the first Covid-19 wave and 11 during the second have already lost their lives in Odisha.
It’s not just Odisha that has declared Journalists as Covid Warriors. Following are the states that have declared Journalists as ‘FRONTLINE WORKERS’:
1 . WEST BENGAL
After winning assembly elections again, CM Mamata Banerjee declared Journalists as Frontline Workers.
2 . MADHYA PRADESH
CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan said journalists were risking their lives while doing their duty during this “dangerous period of COVID-19 pandemic” and they will be taken care of by the government and also termed them as Covid-19 Warriors.
3 . PUNJAB
Captain Amarinder Singh, on Monday, declared the same.
4 . BIHAR
CM Nitish Kumar said:
“All the journalists accredited with the information and public relations department at the state level and also non-accredited scribes authenticated by the district public relation officers, from print, electronic and web media, will be considered as frontline workers for inoculation.”
5 . UTTARAKHAND
The state government declared Journalists as Frontline Workers and irrespective of their age were allowed to get the vaccine jabs.
Even after 6 states in the country have been successful in terming journalists as Frontline Warriors, the Centre is still ignorant of even considering this as an option.
