West Bengal Journalist Pension: Major Benefits Announced for Journalists

West Bengal Journalist Pension is set to undergo a major expansion, with Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announcing new benefits for journalists across the state. The announcement was made during a press conference at Nabanna on Tuesday.

Under the new proposal, retired journalists in West

Bengal will receive a monthly pension of ₹5,000. Importantly, the benefit will no longer be restricted only to journalists holding government-issued accreditation cards.

The state government has also announced a ₹3,000 Puja bonus for eligible working journalists ahead of the festive season. The bonus is also proposed to be extended beyond journalists holding accreditation cards.

₹5,000 Monthly Pension for Retired Journalists

One of the key announcements concerns the West Bengal Journalist Pension scheme. According to the Chief Minister, retired journalists will now receive ₹5,000 per month as pension.

The earlier pension scheme had been introduced several years ago and provided ₹2,500 per month to eligible retired journalists. However, eligibility was linked to accreditation cards.

The latest announcement seeks to broaden the coverage of the pension scheme.

Accreditation Card Requirement Removed

A significant change is that retired journalists accreditation cards will also be eligible for the pension, subject to the applicable government process and requirements.

The move is particularly relevant for journalists who have spent years working in newsrooms but may not have held an accreditation card.

Accreditation is generally associated with journalists meeting specific eligibility requirements and working for organisations that qualify under the relevant government criteria. As a result, a section of journalists, including some desk-based professionals, had remained outside the earlier pension framework.

The proposed expansion of the West Bengal Journalist Pension scheme is intended to address this gap.

₹3,000 Puja Bonus for Working Journalists

The state government has also announced an increase in the annual festive benefit for journalists.

Previously, journalists holding accreditation cards in Kolkata and the districts were provided a small financial benefit ahead of Durga Puja. The government has now announced that the amount will be increased to ₹3,000.

The benefit is expected to be available to journalists who apply, without making an accreditation card a mandatory requirement under the new announcement.

Broader Coverage Across the State

The expansion means that journalists working across different parts of West Bengal could benefit from the festive assistance.

The decision is being positioned as an effort to provide greater support to the state's media professionals, particularly those who may not fall within the existing accreditation framework.

The West Bengal Journalist Pension announcement and the Puja bonus together represent a broader approach towards journalist welfare.

Health Insurance Benefits for All Journalists
Another major announcement relates to healthcare.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said that all journalists in West Bengal will be covered under the Mukhyamantri Swasthya Bima Yojana.

The announcement would extend health insurance-related benefits to journalists across the state, subject to the scheme's applicable rules and implementation process.