IT News
Imphal, July 17:
Financial assistance under the Manipur State Journalists Welfare Scheme (MSJWS), Department of Information and Public Relations, Government of Manipur was provided to 3 (three) journalists, today, at DIPR Office Complex, Keishampat, Imphal by L. Ashokumar, DDO, DIPR and T. Sangeeta, APO (Press), DIPR. The scheme was launched formally on 30th June, 2017 at City Convention Centre, Imphal by the Hon’ble Chief Minister as part of important programme of the new Government’s 100 day’s achievement.
Thingbaijam Dhamen, Imphal Correspondent, Nagaland Post, Top Awang Leikai, Imphal East and Chongtham Meghabarna, Editor, Paonilkhon, Nagamapal Singjubung Leirak, Imphal West were provided assistance amounting to Rs. 57,057/- and Rs. 1,00,000/- respectively for medical treatment. An assistance of Rs 2,00,000/- was handed over to the representative of The Aja Daily who will hand over the cheque to Leishiwon Shaiza, w/o (L) Thotshang Shaiza, Correspondent, The Aja Daily, Viewland Zone-1, Ukhrul District, Manipur as an ex-gratia on the sudden death of the journalists.
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.
So far Twenty-one (21) media persons have availed financial assistance under the scheme since its launch.
