Koraput: A general council meeting of the affiliated district journalist association was held on Wednesday at the Skill Development Training Center premises in Koraput, chaired by association president Shashidhar Raut. Attendees included Pottangi MLA Ramachandra Kadam, Koraput MLA Raghuram Machha, District Collector V. Keerthi Vasan, and Koraput Municipal Council Chairman Lalat Ranjan Sethi.
During the second phase of the meeting, Jeypore MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati and Laxmipur MLA Pavitra Saranta participated and pledged their support for the construction of a journalist building in the district. As Koraput currently lacks such a facility, District Collector Vasan assured that all four MLAs of the district would prioritize and support its construction.
To establish a District Journalist Welfare Fund, President Raut announced a contribution of Rs51,000. This initiative was appreciated as a collective welfare effort for local journalists. Additionally, Koraput MLA Machha contributed Rs 50,000, Jeypore MLA Bsahinipati Rs 50,000, Pottangi MLA Ramachandra Kadam Rs21,000, and Laxmipur MLA Pavitra Saranta Rs21,000. Journalist Welfare Fund Chairman T. Gauri Shankar donated Rs11,000, journalist Chittaranjan Patra Rs20,000, and Arun Das Rs11,111.
This is the first time such a welfare fund has been established in the district to support journalists in need. The association also submitted a three-point demand letter to the Chief Minister through the District Collector and the four MLAs. The legislators assured that these demands would be discussed in the ongoing legislative assembly session.
During the meeting, journalist Jayanta Mishra conducted the oath-taking ceremony. The event was attended by executive chairman Sarat Nayak, general secretary Ranjan Kumbhar Das, treasurer Ghanshyam Rath, editor Sarat Dhal, organizational secretary Parameswar Sahu, vice-president Puralidhar Baraj, regional chairman Pankaj Patra, disciplinary committee chairman Rajendra Goud, advisor Bhavani Mishra, Parikshit Bishwal, Manoj Pattnaik, Ajay Sahu, Trilochan Maharana, and journalists from all 14 blocks. Malkangiri District Journalist Association President Devi Prasad Das also attended.
District Collector Vasan also discussed the journalist building proposal with the Malkangiri District Information Officer.
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