Journalists’ Forum Assam urges for compensations to bereaved journo-families

Sept. 10: Journalists’ Forum Assam (JFA) on Thursday urged upon the State government in Dispur to initiate for compensations to the two recently deceased journalists due to Covid-19 complications. The forum reminded that Dispur decided to approve Rs 50 lakh insurance cover for journalists (after practicing doctors, nurses, police personnel, etc) who succumbed to Covid-19 on duty.

Of late, two Assam based scribes succumbed to the corona aggravated physical ailments. Senior journalist from Barak  valley Ashim Dutta died of Covid-19 on 7 September at Silchar Medical College & Hospital (SMCH). Dutta (65), who worked for a Bengali daily was suffering from renal problems and went for  dialysis regularly. He was admitted to the hospital after testing positive for the virus infection.

Earlier, the State lost its first scribe to the pandemic as Dhaneswar Rabha (35) breathed his last at Guwahati medical college hospital. Hailed from Kacharaital village in Udalguri locality, the rural correspondent was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease and put on the regular dialysis for some time. Rabha tested positive for Covid-19 and was hospitalized where he died on 6 September.

JFA President Rupam Baua and Secretary Nava Thakuria urged upon the State Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and State Health, Finance, etc minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma to take personal interest and compensate the bereaved families of Rabha and Dutta as an appreciation to the media fraternity for its pivotal during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Also Read: Journalists’ Forum Assam expresses grief at the demise of Ashim Dutta