The Jammu and Kashmir government has told the Legislative Assembly that journalists and their families are covered under the Journalists Welfare Scheme of the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
Replying to questions on journalists’ welfare, the government said the scheme, introduced under guidelines issued on April 1, 2023, provides one-time ex-gratia financial assistance to accredited and non-accredited journalists, including freelancers, and their families in cases of extreme hardship.
The assistance is capped at ₹5 lakh in cases of death, ₹5 lakh for permanent disability, and ₹3 lakh for treatment of major ailments not covered under the Central Government Health Scheme or insurance. Journalists from Jammu and Kashmir can apply through the Press Information Bureau or the UT Information Department, with eligible cases forwarded with the required recommendation.
On accommodation, the government said accredited journalists in J&K are eligible for paid government accommodation through the Estates Department, subject to demand and availability. Short-term subsidised accommodation is also available at government guest houses managed by the Hospitality and Protocol Department within and outside the Union Territory.
Accreditation is carried out by the Directorate of Information and Public Relations under the Guidelines for Accreditation of Journalists notified through Government Order No. 15-JK (ID) of 2022, dated November 17, 2022.
Journalists who do not receive health insurance or a post-retirement pension through their employers can also access government schemes, including Ayushman Bharat/SEHAT, which provides health insurance cover of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year to residents of J&K. The government also referred to the Atal Pension Yojana, under which eligible citizens aged 18 to 40 with a bank or post office savings account can subscribe to receive a fixed monthly pension from the age of 60, depending on their contributions.
On the demand for establishing a Press Club in J&K, particularly in Srinagar, the government said Press Clubs are autonomous bodies established by members of the media fraternity and registered as societies under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. Their functioning is the responsibility of their respective executive or governing bodies, with elections held regularly to elect office bearers.
The Jammu Press Club, according to the reply, is functioning from a building provided on lease by the Jammu Development Authority.
