Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today announced that the amount of insurance coverage to working journalists has been increased from Rs.2 lakh to Rs.5 lakh per annum.
This will benefit 8717 working journalists and their families of the state covered under the Gopabandhu Sambadika Swasthya Bima Yojana (GSSBY).
Now, the beneficiaries of Gopabandhu Sambadika Swasthya Bima Yojana can avail medical benefits up to Rs 5 lakh per annum in the empanelled hospitals.
Recently, the Chief Minister has launched a new portal https://owjws.odisha.gov.in/ of the scheme.
The portal for ‘Odisha Working Journalists Welfare Scheme’ has been rolled out to invite applications online from working journalists for enrolment under the Gopabandhu Sambadika Swasthya Bima Yojana.
Under the ‘Odisha Working Journalists Welfare Scheme’, an ex-gratia of Rs. 4 lakhs is provided to the legal heir of the working journalist in case of his/her death, and Rs. 2 lakhs in case of permanent incapacitation. The eligible applicant, in such a case, can apply online for financial assistance from the Information & Public Relations Department.
Acknowledging the hard work of Newspaper Hawkers in delivering newspapers door to door, the government has recognized them as organized sector workers. The Information and Public Relations Department has issued Identity Cards to them.
A newspaper hawker can apply online for registration with the Information and Public Relations Department.
