Odisha Govt Lifts Ban on Journalists’ Entry to Lok Seva Bhawan

Bhubaneswar: In a significant move, the Odisha government has lifted the long-standing restriction on journalists’ entry into the Lok Seva Bhawan, reinstating access to the state secretariat for professional reporting.

The embargo, initially imposed during the outbreak of Covid-19, remained in place for several years despite the pandemic’s subsidence. Successive governments had maintained the ban, citing safety and administrative concerns, until now.

A notification issued by the state government on December 26 confirmed the decision. Both accredited and non-accredited journalists will now be allowed entry under the newly announced guidelines. While the specific implementation date has not been disclosed, it is expected to take effect shortly.

As per the revised rules, journalists seeking access to the Lok Seva Bhawan must present their Aadhaar card and the official identity card of their media organization. To ensure smooth operations and maintain order, only one journalist and one photographer from each media outlet will be permitted entry.