Bhubaneswar, August 31: The Odisha government has extended the Gopabandhu Working Journalist Health Insurance scheme for one year. The renewed coverage will be effective from September 1, 2024, to August 31, 2025.
Acting on the recommendation of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, the Information and Public Relations department has renewed the health insurance scheme by depositing ₹8.55 crore with Oriental Insurance Company. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed between the insurance company and the Department to formalize the renewal.
As many as 7,041 journalists have been covered under the scheme. Journalists who wish to enroll in the scheme can register on the Department of Information and Public Relations portal, which will be opened in the first week of September. The registration portal will remain open for one month, allowing new journalists to add their names.
Since 2018, the state government has been providing health insurance coverage of ₹5 lakh under the scheme for working journalists and their families. The insurance is renewed annually in August, with new health insurance cards issued for the upcoming year.
Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Taraprasad Bahinipati, rasing the issue in the state assembly, demanded to increase the coverage to Rs 20 lakh and include the parents in the insurance coverage.
