Rs 15 lakh ex-gratia for working journos if they die due to Covid-19: Odisha CM

Hemanta Pradhan | TNN | Updated: Apr 27, 2020, 22:43 IST

Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik. (File photo)

BHUBANESWAR: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday announced that the state will provide an ex-gratia of Rs 15 lakh to next of kin of working journalists dying due to Covid-19.
According to an official press release issued by the chief minister's office, journalists are doing their duty to sensitize people about the Covid-19 and covering news during this pandemic situation.
"Covid-19 disease has created a very dangerous situation across the world. Like health workers, our journalist friends are working on the field during this time. I hope journalists will get benefitted by this announcement of CM," said Manas Mangaraj, media advisor to state government.
Earlier, Union minister Pratap Sarangi in a letter to Union information and broadcasting minister Prakash Javadekar had requested to introduce a health insurance scheme for journalists covering the pandemic.