Haryana Government will bear the insurance premium amount of up to Rs 10 lakh for journalists instead of Rs five lakh, announced the Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday while speaking in a seminar on “Future and challenges of journalism”, organized by the Haryana Union of Working Journalists (HUWJ) in Rohtak.
“The State Government is providing insurance cover of Rs five lakh, 10 lakh and 20 lakh to journalists through LIC. Till now, the Government was paying the insurance premium amount up to Rs five lakh, but it will now bear insurance premium amount of up to Rs 10 lakh. The Government would also contribute 50 percent of the premium for insurance up to Rs 20 lakh,” said Khattar.
The CM also underscored various government initiatives for journalists' welfare, including pension for 176 journalists in the state and accreditation for 1262 journalists. The government provides monthly pensions to journalists with 20 years of experience, accreditation for five years, and who have reached 60 years of age.
In addition, accredited journalists enjoy free travel up to 4,000 kilometers on roadways buses. Apart from this, the pension of journalists had been linked with the DA, he added.