Assam government proposes insurance scheme for journalists

The state government of Assam has proposed an insurance scheme for journalists and their families in its budget for 2018-19.

The information was shared by Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma while presenting the state’s budget in the assembly on March 13, 2018. Sarma stated that the state has earmarked a budgetary allocation of Rs 63 crore in 2018-19 for the Information and Public Relations Department that would implement schemes for journalists.

Objective

The new Journalist Insurance Scheme would ensure security and protection of the journalists and their families.

Other Provisions for Journalists

• The state has made necessary provision for media fellowship for pursuing higher studies in journalism so that 20 media persons can be selected for it at the rate of Rs 50,000 each.

• The state would also be providing a one-time grant of Rs 10 lakh to Media Trust, as a token of appreciation of the work being done by it.

• The state government has also extended one-time ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh each to the next of kin of 31 journalists of the state who have lost their lives or have been declared missing while on duty.

Further, a Pension Scheme for Journalists has been introduced to provide retirement benefits to journalists working for more than 20 years in Assam. The state has already distributed individual pensions of Rs 8000 per month to many respected journalists.

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