Athagarh, April 4, 2026 (Rupashree S Mohanty): The Athagarh Media House, a prominent Journalists' Association, has submitted a memorandum to the Sub-Collector Prahallad Narayana Sharma, Athagarh, urging the Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to exempt journalists from paying toll taxes at all toll gates in the state. 
Athagarh Journalists Demand State-Wide Toll Tax Exemption in Memo to CM


The memorandum, signed by Sachidananda Panda, President, and Dilip Kumar Das, Secretary, along with 10 other journalists, highlights the crucial role played by journalists in the state's media landscape. 
"Journalists are the fourth pillar of democracy and are working tirelessly to bring important information to the public," the memorandum states. "However, they are often subjected to harassment and attacks at various places, which hampers their ability to perform their duties."
The association has demanded that the state government waive toll taxes for journalists, citing it as a small concession for their tireless efforts. 
"This exemption will be a significant relief for journalists who are working hard to keep the public informed," said Sachidananda Panda.
The Sub-Collector has assured the association that the memorandum will be forwarded to the Chief Minister for consideration.
The move is seen as a major boost for journalists in the state, who have been demanding toll exemption for years. 
"This is a long-pending demand, and we hope the government will take necessary steps to implement it," said Swetakanta Behera, Advisor to the association.
The memorandum submission was attended by several prominent journalists, including Bijay Nayak, Vice President, Swaraj Panda, Executive President, Manas Sahoo, Debabrata Behera, Sonali Kalia, Ranjit Rout, Mayadhar Rath, Sukanta Dalei and Maheswar Behera.
The Athagarh Media House has been at the forefront of advocating for journalists' rights and welfare, and this latest move is seen as a significant step towards achieving their goals.

Rupashree S Mohanty

Investigative Journalist

Rupashree is a dedicated reporter covering local governance and social justice in Athagarh. With over a years of experience, she focuses on bridging the gap between policy and people.