Bhubaneswar, Dec 31: The Odisha government has lifted the long-standing ban on journalists' entry into the Lok Seva Bhawan, the state secretariat, allowing them to once again carry out their professional duties inside the building.
The restriction on media access to the Lok Seva Bhawan was imposed during the Covid-19 pandemic, with the government citing health and safety concerns. Despite the pandemic subsiding years ago, successive governments had not lifted the embargo until now.
A notification issued by the state government on December 26, 2024, announced the easing of this restriction. The new guidelines allow both accredited and non-accredited journalists to enter the Lok Seva Bhawan. Although no specific date has been set for implementation, it is expected to take effect soon.
Under the revised rules, journalists wishing to enter the secretariat must present their Aadhaar card and a press identification card issued by their respective media organization. Additionally, only one journalist and one photographer per media outlet will be allowed entry at a time.
