Jammu, Feb 19: Jammu and Kashmir Accredited Journalists Association (JKAJA) president Ashwani Kumar has hailed the demand for a pension scheme for retired journalists raised by Tanvir Sadiq, MLA Zadibal and National Conference (NC) Chief Spokesperson, in the Assembly.
In a statement issued here, Kumar said Sadiq has rightly understood the plight of retired journalists who worked tirelessly with pen and paper to strengthen democracy in the country.
He said senior journalists dedicate decades of their lives to upholding democratic values, often working under challenging and risky conditions, and deserve social security after retirement.
Kumar said that most states and Union Territories across the country are already providing monthly pensions to senior journalists who have completed 20 years of service and attained the age of 58 years, on the pattern of corporate sector norms.
"States like Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh are providing monthly pensions ranging from Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 to eligible senior journalists. Similarly, smaller states and Union Territories such as Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Puducherry, Tripura and Uttarakhand are also extending monthly pensions between Rs 8,000 and Rs 15,000 to retired journalists," he said.
The JKAJA president said the number of retired senior journalists in Jammu and Kashmir is very small and, therefore, the financial burden on the Union Territory’s exchequer would not be significant.
He urged all political parties, including the BJP, Congress, People’s Conference and independent legislators, to rise above party lines and collectively press for the implementation of a pension scheme for retired journalists in Jammu and Kashmir.
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