Chandigarh & Haryana Journalists Union meets DG Public Relations
Chandigarh, September 29, 2023 (Yes Punjab News)
Chandigarh and Haryana Journalists Union (CHJU) met Dr. Amit Aggarwal, Additional Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister and Director General, Information and Public Relations Department, to quickly fulfill the CM’s announcements regarding the demands of journalists and submitted Memorandum to him regarding pending demands of journalists.
CHJU State President Ram Singh Brar and State Chairman Balwant Takshak told APSCM that several months ago the Chief Minister had increased the pension of journalists to Rs 11,000 per month, and assured to increase the pension in proportion to the increase in annual DA on automation mode, given the same to cashless medical facilities up to Rs 5 lakhs to journalists at par to government employees. Similarly, it was announced to link media workers working in the field and journalists working at desks with all such schemes. But these announcements have not been fulfilled as yet.
After listening to the entire matter carefully, Dr. Amit Aggarwal, in the presence of the delegation, instructed the Finance Department officials regarding pension and the top officials of the Health Department regarding cashless medical facility cards to complete them soon. APSCM assured the delegation that the Chief Minister’s announcement will be implemented soon and the previous arrears will also be paid by implementing the increase in pension from July itself.
CHJU, in its memorandum submitted to APSCM, said that in 2017, Haryana was the first in the country to start a pension scheme for journalists. Later this scheme was also followed by other states. But there has been no increase in pension in the last 6 years. CHJU also informed that Madhya Pradesh government has increased the pension of journalists to Rs 20 thousand per month and many other states including Rajasthan have increased the pension to Rs 15 thousand per month.
CHJU demanded for increasing the pension of Haryana’s journalists to Rs 20,000 per month, including journalist representatives in the committee formed for the Journalist Pension Scheme, extending the benefit of pension facility even to unrecognized journalists working for years, Reducing the age limit of journalists for pension facility.
Removing the age limit condition for journalists who die before the age of 60 due to accident or incurable disease like cancer or unnatural causes, providing pension facility to their families, providing cashless medical facility to all the journalists. Demanded to provide cashless medical facilities to unrecognized journalists also.
CHJU said that many other demands of the union, which the union had put forward to the government several times before, were once again raised prominently in the memorandum. The Union President said that the conversation with Dr. Amit Aggarwal was very cordial and APSCM had a very positive attitude towards the demands of the journalists. After this meeting, the union expressed hope that other demands of journalists including pension and cashless health cards will be fulfilled soon.
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