SRINAGAR — The Jammu and Kashmir government on Friday informed the Legislative Assembly that no application has been received by the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) under the Journalist Welfare Scheme (JWS) 2023.
In a reply to a question raised by MLA Ranbir Singh Pathania, the government said the scheme, issued by the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on April 1, 2023, is operational at the national level, according to the news agency KNO.
Under the scheme, one-time ex-gratia financial assistance is available to accredited and non-accredited journalists, including freelancers, and their families in cases of extreme hardship.
The government said assistance of up to ₹5 lakh is admissible in cases of death, up to ₹5 lakh for permanent disability and up to ₹3 lakh towards treatment of major ailments not covered under the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) or insurance.
Journalists from Jammu and Kashmir can apply under the scheme through the Press Information Bureau (PIB) and/or the Information Department, while eligible cases from the Union Territory can be forwarded with due recommendation, the government said.
On district-wise details of funds sanctioned, applications received or financial assistance released to journalists or their surviving dependants over the last five financial years, the government said the JWS-2023 was not a J&K-specific scheme.
“No such application has been received by the Department of Information and Public Relations, J&K under the JWS-2023 for recommendation to the MoB,” the government said.
The government was also asked about extending welfare benefits to non-accredited and digital-media journalists. It said the existing scheme already covers accredited and non-accredited journalists, including freelance journalists, and their families in cases of extreme hardship.
No dedicated J&K journalists’ welfare fund
On a proposal to establish a dedicated and non-lapsable J&K Journalists Welfare Fund with a representative governing council, the government said no dedicated welfare fund for journalists currently exists in the Union Territory.
It said the primary statutory obligations relating to service conditions, wages, gratuity, provident fund, insurance against employment injury and medical care of employed journalists rest with employers or media houses under applicable laws.
The government added that establishing a dedicated welfare fund would require finalisation of its corpus and funding pattern, eligibility and income criteria, institutional mechanisms for administration and concurrence of the Finance Department.
The Assembly reply therefore indicates that while J&K journalists are eligible to seek assistance under the national JWS-2023, no case from the Union Territory had been received by DIPR for recommendation under the scheme as of the date of the reply.
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