Congress Legislature Party Leader and Potangi MLA Rama Chandra Kadam has written to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, urging the government to restore and implement the Gopabandhu Sambadika Swasthya Bima Yojana (GSBY) as an independent health insurance scheme for journalists and media personnel in Odisha.
In his letter, Kadam highlighted that many journalists have been facing difficulties in availing medical benefits after the scheme’s merger with the Ayushman Bharat Scheme. He noted that the earlier GSBY provided timely and convenient access to healthcare, offering financial protection during emergencies, while the merged system has led to procedural delays and inconvenience.
Kadam emphasised that media professionals play a vital role in strengthening democracy by acting as a bridge between the government and the people. He appealed for the scheme’s independent continuation or a simplified mechanism within the existing framework to ensure hassle‑free medical treatment for accredited journalists.
He expressed confidence that the Chief Minister’s intervention would reaffirm the state’s commitment to the welfare and well‑being of media professionals.
