Early Times Report
Jammu, May 26: Press Club of Jammu (PCJ) has demanded inclusion of Journalist Welfare Schemes and Cashless Medicliam policy for working and accredited journalists of the state in upcoming budget scheduled to be presented onMay 30.
According to press release, President Press Club of Jammu, Ashwani Kumar alongwith other office bearers Abhimanyu Sharma, Zorawar Singh Jamwal and Dinesh Manhotra had recently met Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti in Jammu. The office bearers of PCJ had submitted about a 100 page report on Journalist Welfare Schemes and Cashless Medicliam policy to chief minister.
Mehbooba Mufti had assured the office bearers of PCJ that these recommendations will be considered.
The aim of these schemes is to improve the conditions of both accredited and working journalists of state.
President PCJ Ashwani Kumar said that since last 26 years, Journalists working in strife torn state of Jammu and Kashmir are facing hardship as there is no Welfare Scheme for scribes.
Quoting the example of Himachal Pradesh, Ashwani Kumar said that Himachal Pradesh High Court in its order and Press Council of India has recommended schemes for safety of Journalists in all states as per norms of Government of India.
"Several State governments including Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Andhara Pradesh, Tamil Naidu and Maharashtra have already created Journalist Welfare Fund", he added and demanded that same should schemes should be initiated in Jammu and Kashmir. |
