DIPR
Imphal, Nov. 14
Information & Public Relations Minister Thongam Biswajit handed over financial assistance to 6 (six) media persons at his official residence today. The assistance provided is under the Manipur State Journalists Welfare Scheme (MSJWS), Department of Information and Public Relations, Government of Manipur. The scheme was launched formally on 30th June, 2017 at City Convention Centre, Imphal by the Chief Minister as part of important programme of the new Government’s 100 day’s achievement.
While handing over the cheques to the media persons, Minister Th. Biswajit said that the Government has always acknowledged the important role played by the media and media persons despite various hardships and challenges faced by them while discharging their duties. The important role played by the fourth estate in a democracy is necessary more than ever in the globalised world of media. This Government recognising the immense contribution launched the scheme as an important programme of the new Government’s 100 day’s achievement, he added.
The Minister further added that the benefits for the media persons will be increased from time to time according to the resources available to the Government. He appealed the media persons to bear with the present financial disbursement.
Paying condolence to the demise of K. Bipin Sharma of Impact TV and other media persons, the Minister said that it is a great loss for the media fraternity and the State and further stated that ex-gratia for the demise person will be handed soon after due process.
The six media persons availing the benefits of the scheme are (Late) Ningthoukhongjam Gitchandra Singh, Joint Editor, Manipur Mail, Uripok Ningthoukhongjam Leikai, V. Khamkhanthang, Joint Editor, Manipur Express, Siloam Veng, Bungmual (one time ex-gratia amounting to Rs. 2,00,000/- each), Phanjoubam Santosh, Photo Journalist, PTI, Wangkhei Konsam Leikai, Imphal, Yendrembam Mangi Ningthouja, Desk Editor, Pandam Daily, Paona Bazaar, Imphal (medical assistance amounting to Rs. 1,00,000/- each) and Koijam Rajen Meetei, Editor-in-Chief, Liklam Journal, Toubungkhok Awang Leikai, Langjing Camp and Kakchingtabam Bipin Sharma, Cameraman, Impact TV, Brahmapur Guru Aribam Leikai, Imphal (medical assistance amounting to Rs. 50,000/- each).
Ten (10) media persons have availed financial assistance under the scheme since its launch. Ex-gratia to four (4) media persons and medical reimbursement to six (6) media persons were distributed respectively.
For the scheme launched formally on 30th June, 2017, the Government made a contribution of Rs. 10,00,00,000/- (Rupees ten Crores) towards the Corpus Fund of the Manipur State Journalists Welfare Scheme on 5th May, 2017. The Scheme provides one time financial/medical assistance to Journalists and their families. The Scheme is constituted under the Department of Information and Public Relations, Government of Manipur and is administered by a Committee and the Committee reserves the right to reject or accept any application without assigning any reasons to the applicants. Assistance are extended depending on the Committee’s satisfaction regarding the eligibility/merits of the cases and the financial resources available for the purpose. A Journalist is eligible for relief from the Scheme, provided that – He/She is a citizen of India, He/She is ordinarily resident of Manipur, He/She is accredited to the Govt. of Manipur and Journalists who are not presently accredited to the Government are eligible for relief from the Scheme if they have been journalists as defined under the guidelines for a minimum period of ten continuous years.
The assistance available under the scheme is upto Rs 2.00 lakh, provided to the family under extreme hardship on account of death of the journalist, upto Rs 2.00 lakh provided to the journalist in case of permanent disability rendering the journalist incapable of earning a livelihood, upto Rs 1.00 lakh provided towards the cost of treatment of major ailments such as cancer, renal failure, heart ailments requiring by-pass/open heart surgery, angioplasty, brain haemorrhage and paralytic attack, any of the ailments which is permissible for full re-imbursement under the medical re-imbursement facility of the Government. 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 60 years and upto Rs 50,000 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.
H. Balkrisna Singh, Director, IPR, Tenshubam Sangeeta, APO (Press), DIPR, and Staffs of DIPR also attended the programme.
