English
English
English
Centre ramps up support for journalists with expanded healthcare and financial aid. With new welfare measures and increased ad rates, how will these changes impact media professionals nationwide? Full details reveal the government’s latest push for journalist welfare.
Government boosts media welfare schemes
New Delhi: The union government is taking steps to strengthen support for journalists, offering improved healthcare access and financial assistance for those facing hardship.
Under the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), PIB-accredited journalists and their families can now receive treatment at government and empanelled private hospitals, ensuring both coverage and affordability.
RJD Suffers Another Blow: Veteran Leader Vijay Krishna Quits After Bihar Poll Debacle
The Government implements the Journalist Welfare Scheme (JWS) to provide one-time ex gratia relief to journalists or their families in cases of extreme hardship. This includes support in the event of a journalist’s death, permanent disability, or diagnosis with major listed ailments. Financial assistance is also extended to journalists who suffer serious injuries in accidents requiring hospitalization.
The scheme covers both PIB-accredited journalists and those accredited by State/UT Governments, as well as non-accredited media personnel. From 2014-15 to 2024-25, financial assistance has been provided to 402 journalists or their families under the JWS.
Responding to representations from “Manyata Praapt Patrakar Kalyan Samiti Delhi,” the Government highlighted that newspapers in India are registered under the Press and Periodicals Registration Act, 2023, along with the 2024 Rules. Registration is streamlined through the Press Seva Portal, offering an accessible online system for media entities.
In addition, the Central Bureau of Communications (CBC), which handles print media advertisements, has recently increased advertising rates by up to 26%. The CBC follows a transparent process for issuing advertisements, ensuring fairness and efficiency.
TMC planning daily protests during parliament winter session? Details inside
Nominations to the committees of the CBC, PIB, and Press Council of India are conducted according to established policy guidelines, ensuring structured representation and accountability within media governance frameworks.
This information was provided by Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Dr L. Murugan, in the Lok Sabha in response to questions from Shri Arvind Ganpat Sawant and Shri Sanjay Uttamrao Deshmukh.
The Government’s focus on healthcare, financial support, and streamlined procedures for media registration underscores its ongoing commitment to safeguarding the welfare of journalists across the country.
