Bhubaneswar, Dec 31: The Odisha government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Mohan Majhi, has officially reopened the gates of Lok Seva Bhawan, the State Secretariat, to media personnel, marking a significant change on the first day of the new administration.
This decision brings an end to the four-year restrictions that were imposed by the previous BJD government, which limited media access to government operations.
In conjunction with this development, the government has introduced new guidelines for the “Secretariat Admission Pass” that regulates media entry into Lok Seva Bhawan for specific purposes.
The Information and Public Relations (I&PR) department issued a notification on December 26, annulling a previous directive from February 6, 2013, which did not adequately address the application process for media personnel seeking access.
Under the new system, journalists must submit their applications online. The entry passes will be issued following a verification process, with endorsements from the I&PR department and final approval from the Home department via the e-Pravesh portal. This new entry pass will be available to various media representatives, including editors, reporters, correspondents, freelance journalists, photojournalists, and cameramen, thereby enhancing transparency and access to government activities for the press.
Media access restored at Lok Seva Bhawan after four years
