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Our Correspondent
Imphal, July 22 (EMN): The department of Information and Public Relations, Government of Manipur handed over financial assistance to two journalists under the Manipur State Journalists Welfare Scheme (MSJWS) at DIPR Office in Imphal on Wednesday.
The two journalists who availed the benefits are Rinku Khumukcham, editor of Imphal Times and L Hauchinlian, reporter of Manipur Express. They received INR 50,000 each for medical treatment. T Ramesh Singh, deputy director, Press, DIPR and L Ashokkumar,
deputy director (HQ), DIPR handed over the cheques to the beneficiaries.
The scheme was launched on June 30, 2017 at City Convention Centre, Imphal by the chief minister, as part of the new government’s 100 days achievement. For the scheme, the government made a contribution of INR 10 crore towards the corpus fund of the Manipur State Journalists Welfare Scheme on May 5, 2017. The scheme provides one time financial/medical assistance to journalists and their families.
The assistance available under the scheme is up to INR 2 lakh, provides to the family under extreme hardship on account of death of the journalist, up to INR 2 lakh provided to the journalist in case of permanent disability rendering the journalist incapable of earning a livelihood, up to INR 1 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 up to the age of 60 years and up to INR 50,000 may be provided in case of accidents causing serious injuries necessitating hospitalisation. This would be subject to the medical expenditure not being covered under CGHS, or any other insurance/departmental health schemes. So far, 15 media persons have availed financial assistance under the scheme since its launch.