5- fold hike in scribe welfare scheme

New Delhi: The I& B ministry has made a five- fold increase in a journalist welfare scheme, which provides financial assistance to scribes and their families in times of “extreme hardships,” from 20 lakh to 1 ` ` crore, an official said.

In a move aimed at welfare of journalists, the Union information and broadcasting ministry has made a five- fold increase in a scheme which provides financial assistance to scribes and their families in times of “extreme hardships,” from ` 20 lakh to ` 1 crore.

Sources stated that the scheme, which will be effective from April 1, provides financial assistance up to ` 5 lakh to the family in case of death of a journalist, up to ` 5 lakh to the journalist in case of permanent disability, and up to ` 3 lakh towards the cost of treatment of major ailments which is not included under Central Government Health Scheme ( CGHS).

“I& B minister Smriti Irani felt that the current provision was not enough. Such a huge hike is made for the first time to avoid scarcity of fund for providing financial assistance to the journalists and their families,” sources added.

The scheme covers journalists accredited to the Press Information Bureau ( PIB), state governments/ UTs, and nonaccredited journalists working for a minimum five continuous years either whole or part time as news editor, reporter, photographer, cameraman and freelance journalist, sources added.

Against the provision of ` 15 lakh in 2016- 17, ` 25.88 lakh was disbursed during the period. From 2013- 14 to 201617, the provision under the scheme was ` 15 lakh per fiscal.