The Assam Union of Working Journalists (AUWJ) has welcomed the announcement by West Bengal Chief Minister Shubhendu Adhikari to provide health insurance benefits to all journalists in the state, a bonus on the occasion of Puja, and pension to all retired journalists.
In a statement, AUWJ president Madhusudan Medhi and general secretary Anjan Kumar Sarma welcomed the announcement and said that such measures reflect the government’s respect for journalists and recognition of their contribution and service to society.
The Assam Union of Working Journalists has urged Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to introduce similar measures in the state to ensure the social security of journalists.
The AUWJ office-bearers said journalists work round the clock to bring government programmes, activities and schemes to the people and to highlight public grievances and problems before the government. Despite their important role, a large number of journalists in Assam continue to remain deprived of their legitimate benefits and entitlements.
Although the Assam Government introduced a pension scheme for retired journalists in 2017, there is a need to increase both the number of beneficiaries and the pension amount, the association said. It also stressed the urgent need for a comprehensive health insurance scheme for journalists, pointing out that many journalists are unable to access advanced medical treatment due to financial constraints.
The association further alleged that under the Journalist Medical Welfare Scheme implemented through the Directorate of Information and Public Relations, only a small portion of the expenses incurred for medical treatment is reimbursed. It also pointed out that meetings of the concerned committee are no longer being held regularly every month and alleged a lack of initiative on the part of the concerned officials to ensure regular meetings.
The AUWJ also expressed concern that many mainstream journalists in the state have still not received identity cards issued by the Directorate of Information and Public Relations despite submitting applications. The association alleged that this has resulted in journalists being deprived of benefits and facilities to which they are entitled.
The association further pointed out that the retirement of some journalists who have not yet received government identity cards is approaching. The matter was brought to the notice of the Chief Minister by the Assam Union of Working Journalists on July 4.
Following the Chief Minister’s direction, his Principal Secretary had instructed the Director of Information and Public Relations to take immediate action in the matter. However, the association said that the direction has not been implemented even after two months.
Stating that the resolution of problems faced by the media and journalists in the state largely depends on the efficiency and role of officials of the Information and Public Relations Department, the AUWJ urged the Director and Commissioner of the department to take effective and timely measures to address these issues.
The association also demanded that the various committees under the Information and Public Relations Department dealing with journalists’ issues, which have failed to hold regular meetings for a long period, be dissolved and reconstituted at the earliest.
The statement noted that the present state government has been working for the welfare of people belonging to all sections of society. In view of this, the AUWJ president and general secretary urged Chief Minister Sarma to announce the journalists’ pension on January 1, as was done last year, and to take necessary steps to resolve the other problems faced by journalists in the state.