No applications received under J&K Journalist Welfare Scheme: Govt tells LA

Raja Syed Rather

Srinagar, Sep 25: The Jammu & Kashmir government on Friday informed the Legislative Assembly that no application has been received by the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) under the Journalist Welfare Scheme (JWS) 2023.

The government further said that the scheme provides financial assistance to accredited and non-accredited journalists, including freelancers, in cases of extreme hardship.

In response to a question raised by MLA Ranbir Singh Pathania regarding, the government, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said the Journalist Welfare Scheme, issued by the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on April 1, 2023, is already operational at the national level.

The government said that under the scheme, one-time ex-gratia financial assistance is provided to accredited and non-accredited journalists, including freelance journalists, in cases of extreme hardship.

“Assistance of up to Rs 5 lakh is admissible in cases of death, up to Rs 5 lakh for permanent disability and up to Rs 3 lakh towards treatment of major ailments not covered under the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) or insurance,” the government further said.

The government said journalists from J&K are eligible to apply under the scheme through the Press Information Bureau (PIB) and/or the Information Department, while eligible cases from the Union Territory can be forwarded with due recommendation.

Regarding district-wise details of funds sanctioned and applications received or financial assistance released to journalists or their surviving dependents during the last five financial years, the government said the JWS-2023 is not J&K-specific. “No such application has been received by the Department of Information and Public Relations, J&K under the JWS-2023 for recommendation to the MoB,” it said.

On the demand for extending welfare benefits to non-accredited and digital-media journalists, the government added that financial assistance is available under JWS-2023 to accredited and non-accredited journalists, including freelancers, and their families in cases of extreme hardship.

On whether the government proposed to establish a dedicated and non-lapsable J&K Journalists Welfare Fund with a representative governing council, the government said that, so far, no dedicated welfare fund for journalists exists in J&K.

The government further said that the primary statutory obligations relating to service conditions, wages, gratuity, provident fund, insurance against employment injury and medical care of employed journalists rest with employers or media houses under applicable laws.

The government added that establishment of such a fund would require finalisation of its corpus and funding pattern, framing of eligibility and income criteria, institutional mechanisms for administration of the fund and concurrence of the Finance Department.—(KNO)