Bhubaneswar (SunstarTV Bureau): Odisha Government amended the Odisha State Working Journalists Welfare Fund Rules-2006 to aid the benefits to working journalists in the state.
Following the amendment, the pre-existing Odisha State Working Journalists Welfare Fund Rules-2006 is renamed as ‘Odisha State Working Journalists Welfare Fund Amendment Rule-2020’.
The revised rules will come into effect from the date of publication in the Odisha Gazette.
According to amended fund rules, the Government will sanction ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh to the family of a working journalist after his or her demise.
The additional financial assistance for the Health Insurance benefit will be sanctioned for treatment of heart, kidney, cancer or other critical illness suffered by a working journalist or any of his or her family members if the medical expenditure exceeds Rs 2 lakh Health Insurance Scheme benefit with Directorate of Medical Education & Training (DMET) approval.
As per the sub-rules of Rule-7(1), a working journalist identified by the District Information & Public Relations Office (DIPRO) through the Collector will be sanctioned house building loan upto Rs 25 lakh at 3% interest rate.