BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday announced a slew of welfare measures to woo working journalists in the State.As part of the incentives, the State Government has decided to provide death benefit of Rs 4 lakh for working journalists and financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh in case of permanent incapacitation.
Three per cent interest subvention on house building loans up to Rs 25 lakh, four wheeler loans upto Rs 4 lakh and two-wheeler loans upto Rs 50,000 has been assured. The subvention will, however, be released annually after repayment of regular installments with interest by the loanee journalists.This apart, educational assistance for the children of deceased working journalists has been extended. An assistance of Rs 1,500 per month will be provided to children till Class 10 and Rs 2,500 per month for higher studies.
The Government has also decided to facilitate three days/one week or two weeks training of minimum 25 and maximum 35 journalists within the State in institutes like Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC). Training cost up to Rs 10,000 per journalist will be borne by the State Government in a period of five years.The Chief Minister has directed the Information and Public Relations (I&PR) Department to implement the benefits immediately.
The announcement came a week after the State Government implemented Gopabandhu Sambadika Swasthya Bima Yojana with an annual health insurance coverage of Rs 2 lakh for journalists from June 1. As many as 3,233 working journalists have been covered under the scheme in the first phase.Information and Public Relations Minister Pratap Jena said an additional financial assistance with approval from Director of Medical Education and Training (DMET) will be provided to journalists in case of critical illness where the expenditure exceeds Rs 2 lakh.
However, a section of journalists seemed to be unhappy with the announcement. They said several States including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Bihar and Haryana have already introduced pension schemes for journalists.
“In fact, Haryana has the best scheme for journalists as it is paying Rs 10,000 monthly pension to those who are above 60 years and have completed 20 years in the profession. It is also providing a life insurance cover of Rs 10 lakh and a cashless mediclaim policy of Rs 5 lakh,” pointed out a scribe.
While the Opposition termed it a desperate bid to ‘please-all’, several journalists’ unions doubted whether actual working journalists would be benefited as the enumeration of reporters in Odisha has not been completed yet.
The incentives
● 3 pc interest subvention on house building loans up to Rs 25L
● On four wheeler loans upto Rs 4L
● On two-wheeler loans upto Rs 50,000
● Subvention will be released after repayment of regular installments
● Assistance of Rs 1,500 per month for children till Class X and Rs 2,500 per month for higher studies
● Three days/one week or two weeks training of minimum 25 and maximum 35 journalists within the State