New Delhi, Mar 21 (UNI) The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has reconstituted the Committee on Journalist Welfare Scheme and Central Press Accreditation Committee with journalists made members of the Journalists Welfare Committee for the first time, a Ministry release said on Wednesday.
The Journalist welfare committee will have six non official members - Ashok Upadhyay (Editor-in-chief of UNI), Vikas Bhadauria, Richa Anirudh, Sujit Thakur, Sipra Das and Ravindra Singh.
The composition of Committee on Journalist Welfare Scheme has been made leaner for its efficient functioning.
Now, only the Information and Broadcasting Secretary, Joint Secretary (P&A) and Principal Director General, PIB would be official members.
For the first time journalists have also been made members to the Committee.
The term of non official members of the Committee will be for a period of two years. This initiative will benefit the aggrieved parties by giving support in a time bound manner.
Central Press Accreditation Committee will be chaired by Principal Director General, PIB with Representatives from Press Council of India and the News Broadcasters Association as its members.
Other members include Prashant Mishra (Dainik Jagran), Navika Gupta (Times Now), Kanchan Gupta (ABP News), J Gopikrishna (The Pioneer) and Smita Prakash (ANI).
The members of the Committee have a tenure of 2 years and shall meet once in a quarter or more frequently.
The Ministgry of Information and Broadcasting has recently increased the provision for Journalist welfare scheme by five fold to Rs. 1 crore in BE 2018 - 19 from Rs.20 lakh in 2017-18. The scheme aims to provide one time ex-gratia relief on urgent basis to journalists and their families on the event of extreme hardship.
This scheme covers journalists accredited to PIB / State Governments / UTs or non-accredited journalists working for a minimum period of five continuous years either whole time or part time as news editor, reporter, photographer, cameramen, photo journalist, freelance journalist.
The financial assistance available under this scheme is upto Rs 5 lakh to the family on account of death of journalist, upto Rs 5 lakh to the journalists in case of permanent disability, upto Rs 3 lakh towards the cost of treatment of major ailments which is not covered under CGHS or any other insurance / health schemes.
UNI AR SHK 2056