Ending a long pending demand of the journalists working in the state the state government on Wednesday announced health insurance scheme. The government-accredited journalists would get the benefit of the insurance scheme.
Minister for Information and Cultural Affairs Sushanta Chowdhury said, “Under this scheme, the journalists will get a benefit of maximum Rs. 3 lakh for healthcare in a year. The state government will bear 80 percent of the cost and the beneficiaries have to contribute the remaining 20 percent,” Chowdhury told the reporters.
He said, the cabinet decision reflected the government’s goal for the welfare of the journalists.
As per the guidelines, the journalists who are Indian citizens and aged between 21 and 65 years and accredited with the ICA department are eligible for the health insurance scheme. The journalists, who are covered under the central government’s health scheme or Ayushman Bharat, would not get the benefit, he said.
According to Chowdhury, at present there are total 170 accredited journalists in the state. The journalists, who would get accreditation in the coming days, would also get the benefit, he mentioned.
Journalists of the state hailed the cabinet decision and expressed gratitude to the state government for the decision.
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