Raipur, 03 September 2021. Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has said that the Chhattisgarh government stands with the media in every happiness and sorrow. The state government is taking continuous steps to reduce their professional challenges and difficulties. The easier the difficulties of the media personnel, the easier will be the path of journalism in Chhattisgarh. The state government is committed to preserve the glorious journalism of Chhattisgarh and its high ideals. Chief Minister Mr. Baghel was distributing checks of the sanctioned assistance amount from the Journalists’ Welfare Fund in a program organized at his residence office here today to the families of journalists who died of Kovid-19.
A total amount of one crore 15 lakh rupees, sanctioned in various cases of 53 media personnel, has been released from the Journalists Welfare Fund today. Out of these media personnel, a total financial assistance of Rs 90 lakh has been sanctioned to the families of 18 media personnel who have died due to Kovid-19. Chief Minister Shri Bhupesh Baghel distributed financial assistance checks to the families of 11 media personnel out of 18 media personnel who died due to COVID-19 in a program organized at his residence office here today. Checks of approved aid amount are being sent to the families of other media personnel. In the program, two minutes silence was paid to the departed media personnel.
The Chief Minister said that journalists of Chhattisgarh could fulfill their obligations of fair journalism by being free from financial worries, that is why Journalists Welfare Fund has been established. Earlier, up to Rs 50,000 was given to journalists and their families for the treatment of diseases from the Journalists Welfare Fund, the state government has increased this amount to Rs 2 lakh by amending these rules. In case of accidental death, a provision has been made to provide financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh from the Journalists Welfare Fund.
The Chief Minister said that the media colleagues, like every time, fulfilled their obligations with full responsibility even in the time of Corona crisis. In the history of journalism of Chhattisgarh, the journalism of Corona-era will always set an example for the coming generation. Despite the dangers of infection, the media colleagues worked continuously in the field. Many media persons were also infected. His relatives were also infected. The government made all necessary arrangements to ensure the best treatment for these media personnel and their families. Despite treatment, many of these companions could not be saved. The comrades we lost during the Corona period. Paying tribute to the departed media personnel, the Chief Minister expressed his heartfelt condolences to their families.
Shri Baghel said that we all faced many challenges during the second wave of Corona. As much as the task of identifying infected people to arranging their treatment was challenging for the government, it was equally challenging for the media to reach the right information to the people, warn about rumors and maintain a positive environment.
The Chief Minister said that the Senior Media Karmi Samman Nidhi scheme is being operated for the senior media personnel of the state. In this scheme, earlier there was a provision of giving 5 thousand rupees per month as Samman Nidhi, the new government has increased it to 10 thousand rupees per month. By amending the scheme, the qualifying age has been reduced from 62 years to 60 years now. The media persons eligible for this scheme will be able to avail benefits for life. By amending the rules for giving preference to journalists, now a provision has also been made for block level recognition. Due to this, the colleagues working at the ground level in rural areas have also started getting the benefits of facilities.
Mr. Baghel said that as per its promise, the State Government is also continuously moving forward in the direction of enactment of Journalist Protection Act. Soon this law will be ready and presented in the assembly. He appreciated the journalists of Chhattisgarh for their excellent services during the Corona period.
Public Relations Commissioner Dr. S. Bharathidasan said that most of the media personnel or their families who are being given assistance in this program today have been in trouble during the Corona period. Under the Journalists Welfare Fund, there is a provision to provide financial assistance to media workers and their families in distress or in distress by the Public Relations Department. He said that all the responsibilities assigned to the Public Relations Department by the State Government for the welfare of journalists and protection of journalism, all those responsibilities are being promptly discharged.
Dainik Chhattisgarh Raipur Late Shri Tilak Devangan’s son Shri Rishabh Devangan, Urdu Dainik Khabar Express Raipur Late Shri Abid Ali’s wife Smt. Nasera Abid Ali and Correspondent, Highway Channel Raipur Late Shri Shakir Khan’s wife Smt. On behalf of Late Shri Shakir Khan’s father Shri Razzaq Khan received. President of Press Club Raipur, Mr. Damu Ambedkar, Treasurer Ms. Shagufta Shirin and Executive Member Mr. Manoj Nayak and President of Durg Press Club Ms. Bhavna Pandey were also present on this occasion. The program was conducted by Shri Sanjeev Tiwari, Joint Director, Public Relations Department. The vote of thanks was given by Additional Director Public Relations Shri Umesh Mishra. Additional Director Public Relations Shri J.L. Dario was also present. Urdu Daily Khabar Express Raipur Late Shri Abid Ali’s wife Smt Nasera Abid Ali and Correspondent Highway Channel Raipur Late Shri Shakir Khan’s wife Smt. did. President of Press Club Raipur, Mr. Damu Ambedkar, Treasurer Ms. Shagufta Shirin and Executive Member Mr. Manoj Nayak and President of Durg Press Club Ms. Bhavna Pandey were also present on this occasion. The program was conducted by Shri Sanjeev Tiwari, Joint Director, Public Relations Department. The vote of thanks was given by Additional Director Public Relations Shri Umesh Mishra. Additional Director Public Relations Shri J.L. Dario was also present. Urdu Daily Khabar Express Raipur Late Shri Abid Ali’s wife Smt Nasera Abid Ali and Correspondent Highway Channel Raipur Late Shri Shakir Khan’s wife Smt. did. President of Press Club Raipur, Mr. Damu Ambedkar, Treasurer Ms. Shagufta Shirin and Executive Member Mr. Manoj Nayak and President of Durg Press Club Ms. Bhavna Pandey were also present on this occasion. The program was conducted by Shri Sanjeev Tiwari, Joint Director, Public Relations Department. The vote of thanks was given by Additional Director Public Relations Shri Umesh Mishra. Additional Director Public Relations Shri J.L. Dario was also present. Highway Channel Raipur Late Mr. Shakir Khan’s wife Mrs. Sania Khan received the check of the amount of assistance paid on her behalf by Mr. Razzaq Khan, father of Late Mr. Shakir Khan. President of Press Club Raipur, Mr. Damu Ambedkar, Treasurer Ms. Shagufta Shirin and Executive Member Mr. Manoj Nayak and President of Durg Press Club Ms. Bhavna Pandey were also present on this occasion. The program was conducted by Shri Sanjeev Tiwari, Joint Director, Public Relations Department. The vote of thanks was given by Additional Director Public Relations Shri Umesh Mishra. Additional Director Public Relations Shri J.L. Dario was also present. Highway Channel Raipur Late Mr. Shakir Khan’s wife Mrs. Sania Khan received the check of the amount of assistance paid on her behalf by Mr. Razzaq Khan, father of Late Mr. Shakir Khan. President of Press Club Raipur, Mr. Damu Ambedkar, Treasurer Ms. Shagufta Shirin and Executive Member Mr. Manoj Nayak and President of Durg Press Club Ms. Bhavna Pandey were also present on this occasion. The program was conducted by Shri Sanjeev Tiwari, Joint Director, Public Relations Department. The vote of thanks was given by Additional Director Public Relations Shri Umesh Mishra. Additional Director Public Relations Shri J.L. Dario was also present. Treasurer Ms. Shagufta Shirin and Executive Member Mr. Manoj Nayak and President of Durg Press Club Ms. Bhavna Pandey were also present. The program was conducted by Shri Sanjeev Tiwari, Joint Director, Public Relations Department. The vote of thanks was given by Additional Director Public Relations Shri Umesh Mishra. Additional Director Public Relations Shri J.L. Dario was also present. Treasurer Ms. Shagufta Shirin and Executive Member Mr. Manoj Nayak and President of Durg Press Club Ms. Bhavna Pandey were also present. The program was conducted by Shri Sanjeev Tiwari, Joint Director, Public Relations Department. The vote of thanks was given by Additional Director Public Relations Shri Umesh Mishra. Additional Director Public Relations Shri J.L. Dario was also present.
