The article highlights the pressing need for welfare and support for journalists in Odisha, focusing on the dire situation of veteran journalist Tapas Kumar Das.
The Crisis: Tapas Kumar Das, a well-known Bhubaneswar journalist with over two decades of service dedicated to public interest and social welfare, is now battling a severe liver-related disease. He has exhausted all of his family’s savings on treatment and is currently helpless, with a wife and two children dependent on him.
The Appeal: Lingaraj Sahoo, the convenor of the Sambadika Milita Mancha (Journalists’ United Forum), has publicly appealed to the state’s Health Department, Information & Public Relations Department, and philanthropists to immediately provide financial assistance to Tapas Das.
Journalist Mobilization: The Journalists’ United Forum, formed six years ago to champion the common interests of journalists, has been actively working toward systemic change. Their efforts include:
Meeting with over 12 ministers and 50 legislators to press demands.
Successfully campaigning for separate COVID-19 vaccination camps for journalists.
Raising the demand for a comprehensive Journalist Protection Act at an all-India level, even urging political parties, including the BJP, to include such issues in their central election manifestos.
The incident underscores the vulnerability of journalists in Odisha, especially those from the capital city where a large media ecosystem operates.
#OdishaJournalists #TapasKumarDas #JournalistWelfare #JournalistProtectionAct #PressFreedomIndia #SambadikaMilitaMancha #OdishaGovt
