Vijayawada: All India Newspaper Employees Federation (AINEF) welcomed the Odisha government’s decision declaring journalists as ‘Frontline COVID warriors’ and appealed the governments of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana state to declare journalists as Frontline COVID warriors in their states.
In a statement here on Monday, IANEF national vice-president Mr Purnachandra Rao said that the Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had taken a decision bringing all the journalists in the state under the Frontline Warrior’s list, extending Gopabandhu Sambadika Swasthya Bima Yojana insurance cover under which 6,944 journalists would get Rs 2 lakh.
He said that the Odisha Chief Minister recognized the great services of journalists in making people aware of issues relating to Covid-19 and taking part in the battle against the pandemic, risking their lives.
Mr Purnachandra Rao thanked Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on behalf of AINEF. He appealed to the Chief Ministers of two Telugu states to declare journalists as ‘Frontline warriors’ and extend the benefits.
Mr Rao deplored that as many as 30 journalists have died of Coronavirus in the two Telugu states-Andhra Pradesh and Telangana-during the last 10 days. He urged the governments of both the states to extend financial help to the bereaved families.