Bhubaneswar: The Information and Public Relations Department of Government of Odisha has given the key responsibility of Journalists welfare to senior Biju Janata Dal leader Manas Mangaraj. Henceforth, he will be looking after the various issues related to the welfare of the journalists in the state. The key responsibility comes after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik recommended his name to the I & PR Department.
Mangaraj, a senior journalist himself, has been the media advisor to the Government of Odisha. With this, the I & PR Department will consult Mangaraj on all the important issues related to the department and journalists of the state. He will also be advising the government on issue of official advertisements to various print and electronic media. As advisor, he will be the distinguished guest in all the functions organized by the I & PR Department.
Presently he is officiating as the Media Advisor to the state government and has been accorded a Minister of State rank. The news of Manas Mangaraj getting the key responsibilities is welcomed by the journalist fraternity of the state who say that the decision is in the wider interest of the media.