Question : Financial Assistance to Scribes

(a) whether the Government proposes to increase financial assistance under welfare scheme for scribes and their families in times of extreme hardships and if so, the details thereof ;

(b) the criteria fixed for covering journalists and their families under the welfare scheme;

(c) whether the part-time journalists, freelance journalists, photographers, cameramen are eligible for coverage under this scheme and if so, the details thereof;

(d) the details of the beneficiaries under this scheme during the last three years. State/UT-wise; and

(e) the details of the funds sanctioned and released under this scheme during the said period, State/UT wise?

THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE: MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING; AND MINISTER OF HEAVY INDUSTRIES AND PUBLIC ENTERPRISES
{SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR}


(a) to (c) : Financial Assistance to Journalists and their families in extreme hardship is extended in accordance with the Guidelines on Journalist Welfare Scheme dated 05.03.2019. Detailed criteria, coverage, eligibility and quantum of financial assistance have been laid down under the guidelines which are available on this Ministry’s website : www.mib.nic.in.

(d) & (e): Details of financial assistance given in the last three years are as under:-

Financial Year Total number of Beneficiary Amount of funds Sanctioned /Released
(in Lakhs) States/UTs
2017-18 11 39.37 Bihar, Delhi, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh.
2018-19 27 99.99 Bihar, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal.
2019-20 28 115.25 Bihar, Chattisgarh, Delhi, Haryana, Jharkhand, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh.

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