Organization : Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Service Name : Journalist Welfare Scheme
Applicable States/UTs: All India
Website : http://mib.nic.in/demo.aspx
Application Form : https://www.statusin.in/uploads/18426-Scheme.pdf
Journalist Welfare Scheme :
The Scheme may be called the Journalists Welfare Scheme./ It shall come into force with effect from 1st February, 2013.
Related : Ministry of Finance Gold Monetisation Scheme : www.statusin.in/17537.html
Eligibility For Availing Assistance From The Scheme:
A journalist shall be eligible for relief from the Scheme, provided that :
1) He/she is a citizen of India,
2) He/she is ordinarily resident of India,
3) He/she should be accredited to PIB at the Headquarters of the Govt. of India or at the Headquarters (Capitals) of the State/UT Governments.
4) Journalists who are not presently accredited to either the Government of India or any State/UT Government shall also be eligible for relief from the Scheme if they have been journalists as defined under these guidelines for a minimum period of five continuous years.
Procedure For Sanction From The Scheme:
Proposals received for assistance from the Scheme will be processed by the Principal Director General (Media & Communication), Press Information Bureau (PIB) and will be sent to the Committee with specific recommendation and supporting documents.
The recommendation will be considered and decided by the Committee and the assistance will be released with the approval of Minister of Information & Broadcasting. However, in cases of urgency, the Chairman may initiate a case for approval of Minister of Information & Broadcasting. Such approvals will be reported in the next meeting of the Committee.
Application Form :
The application for the grant of financial assistance under this scheme shall be submitted to the Principal DG (M&C), PIB in the form prescribed in schedule-I. Any other additional information may be asked by the Committee. The Committee may amend the application format as and when required.
The Committee may also suo moto take up cases for grant of financial assistance even if an application has not been received from the journalist/beneficiaries.
Assistance Available Under The Scheme:
(i) Upto Rs.5 lakh may be provided to the family under extreme hardship on account of death of the journalist.
(ii) Upto Rs.5 lakh may be provided to the journalist in case of permanent disability rendering the journalist incapable of earning a livelihood.
(iii) Upto Rs.3 lakh may be provided towards the cost of treatment of major ailments such as cancer, renal failure, heart ailments requiring by-pass/ open heart surgery, angioplasty, brain hemorrhage and paralytic attack etc.
This would be subject to the medical expenditure not being covered under CGHS, or any other insurance/ departmental health schemes, etc. However, relief under this provision is available to the journalist only upto the age of 65 years.
(iv) Upto Rs.2 lakh may be provided in case of accidents causing serious injuries necessitating hospitalization. This would be subject to the medical expenditure not being covered under CGHS, or any other insurance/departmental health schemes, etc. However, in case of non-accredited journalists, the quantum of assistance available for cases (ii), (iii) and
(iv) above will be limited to Rupees One Lakh for journalists having worked as such for 5 continuous years and thereafter Rupees One Lakh for every additional 5 years of working in the same manner subject to the maximum ceiling provided in each case.
General :
Grant of financial assistance from the Scheme to any working journalist is not a matter of right. Assistance would be extended depending on the Committee’s satisfaction regarding the eligibility/merits of the cases and the financial resources available for the purpose. The Committee reserves the right to reject or accept any application without assigning any reasons therefor.