New Delhi: The BJP introduced on April 18 that if it involves energy in West Bengal, it can present journalists with a month-to-month stipend of Rs 5,000. Forward of polling day, West Bengal BJP chief Samik Bhattacharya introduced in Kolkata that his get together would help working media personnel. “There might be no distinction between journalists and this method will apply to everybody who meets the eligibility standards,” he mentioned on the time of the announcement.
“Everyone seems to be our pal, whether or not you might be writing on our behalf or towards us.” “We respect your freedoms and rights,” he added in a lightweight tone.
Bhattacharyya mentioned the proposed measures are geared toward guaranteeing monetary help and offering peace of thoughts to members of the media fraternity.
The proposal goes past aggressive packages in different states in that it guarantees advantages to working journalists, not like different states which have packages that present pensions to retired journalists.
Journalist Sheila Bhatt, former treasurer of the Editors Guild of India, advised ThePrint, “I ought to add that Samik Bhattacharya is doing what the Congress and all different political events have been doing for many years… We’re being given preferential remedy in medical insurance and plenty of different methods.Previously, our seniors had been coddled by the political class. They’ve been providing big reductions on land allotments…within the pre-Bharatiya Social gathering period. Issues are so dangerous that they even supplied Rs. 5,000 a month is just not information, as a result of journalists are getting greater favors today, in hidden and not-so-hidden methods. ”
Sanjay Kapur, a New Delhi-based journalist, mentioned, “Why ought to journalists working in publications and information channels obtain allowances? As within the non-public sector, firms don’t present post-retirement allowances, so it is sensible to present allowances to unemployed journalists. What the Bharatiya Janata Social gathering offers to journalists shouldn’t embellish the copy.”
West Bengal’s ruling get together, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), has been implementing Maavoy (West Bengal Well being Plan) since 2016, which is particularly tailor-made for journalists.
However West Bengal is just not the one state to announce welfare schemes for journalists and media staff. That is the primary time a political get together has proposed a month-to-month stipend on to working journalists, though comparable welfare bulletins have surfaced incessantly throughout previous election cycles.
Previously, a number of states have launched schemes (introduced by political events of their manifestos) that primarily give attention to healthcare and pensions for journalists with 20 years or extra of steady service.
The BJP’s proposed allowance of Rs 5,000 in West Bengal, which is for journalists at the moment working, is completely different.
In Rajasthan, forward of the meeting elections, the Bharatiya Janata Social gathering has promised the Varisht Patrakar Samman program. After coming to energy in 2023, the get together has fulfilled its promise and the present Bhajan Lal Sharma authorities offers journalists with a month-to-month pension of Rs 15,000.
In Tamil Nadu, Prime Minister MK Stalin final month handed an order growing journalists’ pensions from Rs 12,000 to Rs 15,000 per thirty days forward of meeting elections. Moreover, the household pension profit beneath the scheme has been elevated from Rs 6,000 to Rs 7,500 per thirty days.
In Bihar, one other state dominated by the Bharatiya Janata Social gathering, the get together not too long ago gained an meeting election, modified the identify of the pension scheme from Patrakal Pension Yojana to Bihar Patrakkar Samman Yojana, and elevated the month-to-month pension for retired journalists from Rs 6,000 to Rs 15,000.
In Goa, the BJP authorities runs two main schemes for journalists. The “laptop computer/digital camera buy subsidy” system that was launched in 2021 was initially canceled resulting from poor response. Nevertheless, on the request of the Goa Union of Journalists (GUJ), the Pramod Sawant-led authorities resumed it in 2025.
Moreover, Goa’s Patrakar Kritadnyata Nidhi Scheme (launched in 2010) offers one-time instant help of as much as Rs 200,000 to journalists in needy conditions.
In Pondicherry, the federal government offers retired journalists with a month-to-month pension of Rs 6,000. In Assam, the federal government is giving a one-time grant of Rs 500,000 per yr to twenty chosen journalists.
Journalists in Bengal say they welcome monetary help for well being functions, however are skeptical about month-to-month allowances.
“I’m not in favor of allowances for journalists from any authorities of any political get together, together with the current proposal from the Bharatiya Janata Social gathering in West Bengal. As a substitute, a complete medical insurance profit like CGHS ought to exist for his or her welfare,” mentioned editor Sudipta Sengupta. Fourth Pillar WeThePeoplehe advised ThePrint.
One other journalist from the Kolkata Press Membership, requesting anonymity, mentioned: “That is not what journalists need. We do not need a month-to-month stipend. We would like freedom from political stress whereas reporting.”
In Kerala, the state of affairs is a bit of completely different. The Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) is lobbying for the pension to be elevated from Rs 11,000 to Rs 20,000 per thirty days to maintain up with the rising value of residing. In consequence, the Kerala authorities elevated the pension to Rs 13,000 within the 2026 funds.
Each Telangana and Andhra Pradesh provide an ‘In-Service Journalist Well being Scheme’. In Telangana, it’s managed beneath Rajiv Aarogya Sri Healthcare Belief. In Andhra Pradesh, it’s a part of the Dr NTR Vaidya Seva Belief and Aarogya Aasara, which offers upkeep allowances to journalists present process sure therapies.
Velamarthi Venkatachalam is an alumnus of ThePrint Faculty of Journalism and is at the moment interning at ThePrint.
(Edited by Vinny Mishra)
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