The Haryana Government has actively been implementing a range of innovative and pioneering schemes aimed at improving the well-being of journalists and one of the recent highlights of these initiatives is the increase in the monthly pension for journalists from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 15,000, making it the highest in the country, Director General Information, Public Relations and Languages Department, Dr. Amit Agrawal informed during a meeting with the members of the Press Council of India (PCI) on Thursday.
In addition, a total of Rs. 161.74 lakh has been disbursed to date among their dependents or legal heirs in cases of severe need due to reasons such as illness, demise, accidents, or other unforeseen emergencies under the Haryana Media Personnel Welfare Fund Administration Scheme.
An official PCI delegation is currently on a three-day visit to Punjab, Chandigarh (UT) and Haryana, with the objective of addressing the challenges encountered by journalists. The PCI delegation, led by Council Convener Vinod Kohli, also included L. C. Bhartiya, Jai Shankar Gupta, and Prasanna Kumar Mohanty.
During the interaction with the delegation, Dr. Agrawal highlighted that the Haryana Government is actively implementing a term/group insurance scheme, providing coverage of Rs. 10 lakh to 1,269 accredited journalists. This insurance scheme provides essential financial security for journalists, ensuring their well-being as they continue to serve the public through their work.
The delegation also visited the newly renovated Media Center, which received high praise for its impressive design.
Joint Director (Press), Dr. Sahib Ram Godara assured the PCI members that the Haryana Government is already committed to implementing the Council's recommendations and guidelines. The government had established a Journalist Welfare Fund in the state, which provides financial assistance for the treatment of serious illnesses. He also informed the delegation about the Press Facility Office and Web Studio and shared details of various welfare schemes launched by the state government to support journalists.
