Good News for Journalist Welfare Scheme Beneficiaries 2023 | Now You Can Also Apply Online 

Journalist Welfare Scheme 2023: Journalism in India plays a crucial role in the country’s vibrant democracy. Indian journalists are tasked with the responsibility of reporting on a wide range of issues, from politics and governance to social, economic, and cultural developments. They act as the watchdogs of society, holding those in power accountable and providing a voice to the marginalized and underrepresented. However, Indian journalists often face numerous challenges, including threats to their safety, political pressure, and economic constraints. Acknowledging their work, the Government of India launched the Journalist Welfare Scheme in 2018. In this article, we are going to talk about the Journalist Welfare Scheme in detail. In case of any query, you can comment down below. 

What is the Journalist Welfare Scheme 2023?

Journalist Welfare Scheme as the name suggests is a welfare scheme for the journalists of India. It has been launched by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting to safeguard the well-being of working journalists. Under this scheme, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting will offer one-time ex-gratia assistance to journalists and their families facing extreme hardships within a specific timeframe.

Who is a Journalist according to the scheme?

For the purposes of this scheme, a “journalist” is defined as either:

• A working journalist as outlined in the Working Journalists and Other Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1955, or
• “Media Personnel” whose primary occupation involves reporting or editing for news channels on radio or TV and who is employed in a full-time or part-time capacity in one or more such establishments. This category includes individuals with roles such as news editor, reporter, photographer, cameraman, photojournalist, and freelance journalist. However, it does not include individuals who:
  • Are primarily employed in a managerial or administrative capacity, or
  • Are employed in a supervisory role that entails functions primarily of a managerial nature due to the nature of their duties or the powers vested in them.

Download the Complete Journalist Welfare Scheme Guidelines in Hindi [PDF]

Let’s see the complete details regarding the scheme. 

Journalist Welfare Scheme 2023 Key Highlights
Journalist Welfare Scheme Launch Date	March 2018Revised in April 01, 2023
Journalist Welfare Scheme Official Website	Click Here
Journalist Welfare Scheme Objective	To offer financial assistance and stability to journalists encountering economic difficulties.
Journalist Welfare Scheme Beneficiaries	Journalists of India
Journalist Welfare Scheme No of Beneficiaries	Depends on the Budget allocated in that FY
Journalist Welfare Scheme Financial Assistance	Rs 5,0,000 in case of the death of journalists.
Journalist Welfare Scheme under which Ministry	Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Journalist Welfare Scheme Family comprises of	Journalist, Spouse, dependent parents, and dependent children.
Journalist Welfare Scheme Mode of application	Online and Offline

Journalist Welfare Scheme Objective

The objectives of the Journalist Welfare Scheme 2023 are as follows:

• To offer financial assistance and stability to journalists encountering economic difficulties.
• To guarantee medical coverage and assistance for journalists and their families.
• To elevate the expertise and knowledge of journalists by conducting training programs and workshops.
• To furnish legal aid to journalists confronting legal challenges related to their professional duties.
• To acknowledge and appreciate the valuable contributions of journalists to society while safeguarding their welfare and overall well-being.

Journalist Welfare Scheme Benefits 2023

• In the event of a journalist’s passing, their family can receive up to ₹5,00,000 if they are facing extreme financial difficulties.
• If a journalist becomes permanently disabled and cannot work, they may receive up to ₹5,00,000 for financial support.
• Journalists with major illnesses like cancer, renal failure, heart conditions requiring surgeries, brain hemorrhages, or paralysis may receive up to ₹3,00,000 for medical expenses, but only if these costs are not covered by other health insurance schemes.
• If a journalist is not officially recognized and is over 65 years old, they may not be eligible for financial assistance, unless the committee makes exceptions based on the circumstances.
• Journalists who experience accidents resulting in serious injuries requiring hospitalization can receive up to ₹2,00,000 for medical expenses, as long as these expenses are not covered by other health insurance plans.
• For non-accredited journalists, there is a maximum assistance limit:
  • ₹1,00,000 for cases of permanent disability.
  • ₹1,00,000 for major illnesses.
  • ₹1,00,000 for accidents.
• This maximum assistance is available if they have worked as a journalist continuously for 5 years, and they can receive an additional ₹1,00,000 for every additional five years of work, with a maximum limit for each specific case.

Journalist Welfare Scheme Eligibility Criteria 

To be eligible for the Journalist Welfare Scheme, the applicant must meet the following criteria:

• The applicant must hold Indian citizenship.
• The applicant must currently reside in India as a permanent resident.
• The applicant must have a background in journalism, either as a serving or retired journalist.
• The applicant should have official accreditation from the Press Information Bureau (PIB) at either the central government’s headquarters in India or the headquarters of a state or union territory government.
• If the applicant is not currently accredited to either the Government of India or any State/Union Territory government, they must have worked as a journalist continuously for a minimum of five years.

Journalist Welfare Scheme Documents Required

• Proof of Age / Date of Birth (DOB)
• Proof of Residence
• Bank Details (as per source)
• Documents related to the Cause of Financial Assistance:
  • In the case of a Journalist’s death resulting in extreme family hardship:
    • Documents concerning Date, Nature, and Cause of Death.
  • For Permanent Disability preventing the Journalist from earning a living:
    • Relevant documentation.
  • In cases of Major Illnesses:
    • Documents detailing the nature of the illness, the treatment facility (hospital name), type of treatment (drugs, surgery, radiotherapy, etc.), and the treatment period.
  • For Accidents causing serious injuries requiring hospitalization:
    • Documents detailing the accident date and location, nature of injuries, and treatment duration.
  • Bills and Receipts related to the requested financial assistance.
  • Information on Financial Assistance received or applied for from other sources (e.g., PM Relief Fund, CM Relief Fund, Journalist Associations, Insurance Claims, Motor Accident Claims, Tribunal, etc.).
  • Family Details (applicable only in case of a Journalist’s death or disability), including Full Name of Family Member, Gender, Proof of Age / DOB, Relationship with the Deceased Journalist, and Employment Details.
  • Photocopy of Cheque with bank verification.

Journalist Welfare Scheme Financial Assistance  (As per 2023)

It should be noted that payments will be disbursed using the budget set aside for the Journalist Welfare Scheme in the respective financial year. Benefits from the Scheme will only be deposited into the Aadhar-linked bank accounts of the recipients. Here is the complete information regarding the Journalist Welfare Scheme assistance amount. 

Parameters	Maximum Assistance Amount	Additional Amount for Every 5 Years of Continuous Work
Journalist’s Passing (Extreme Hardship)	₹5,00,000	N/A
Permanent Disability	₹5,00,000	₹1,00,000 per additional 5 years
Major Illnesses	₹3,00,000	N/A
Accidents with Hospitalization	₹2,00,000	N/A
Non-accredited Journalists (Maximum Assistance)	₹1,00,000 (Disability, Illness, Accidents)	₹1,00,000 per additional 5 years (Disability, Illness, Accidents)

Please note that the maximum limit applies to each specific case, and non-accredited journalists must have worked continuously as a journalist for at least 5 years to be eligible for this assistance.

Journalist Welfare Scheme Application Process (Offline)

• To apply for financial assistance under the Journalist Welfare Scheme, you need to submit your application form in the format specified to the following address:
  • The Principal Director General (M&C)
  • Press Information Bureau (PIB)
  • ‘A’ Wing, Shastri Bhawan,
  • New Delhi
• You need to download the Journalist Welfare Scheme application form from the official website. You can also do the same just by clicking on the link below.
• Download the Journalist Welfare Scheme application form [PDF]

Journalist Welfare Scheme Application Process General Guidelines

Here are some general guidelines that you must keep in mind while filling out the Journalist Welfare Scheme application form online

• Provide the journalist’s full name.
• Use the date of birth mentioned in the attached documentary proof.
• Include a complete postal address with proof of residence.
• Double-check the accuracy of your mobile number and email for contact purposes.
• List your work experience from the beginning of your journalism career, including joining and relieving dates for each organization.
• Specify the organization name and your designation.
• Select the appropriate reason for seeking financial assistance and provide supporting documents.
• Attach a bill summary for multiple bills when seeking financial assistance.
• Disclose details of financial aid from other sources.
• Provide journalist accreditation details, including card number, validity, and affiliated media organization or freelance status.
• Explain any reasons for not utilizing the CGHS facility if the journalist was a beneficiary.
• In case of a journalist’s death or disability, provide family member details and employment information.
• Complete all sections in the mandate form, including accurate Bank Account Number and MICR code.
• Upload the necessary documents with clear descriptions, and consider listing them before uploading.
• Review the entire application before clicking the SUBMIT button, as changes cannot be made after submission.

Journalist Welfare Scheme Application Process (Online)

After going through the general guidelines mentioned above, you will be now ready to fill out the application form online. Here is the step-by-step process of the Journalist Welfare Scheme application form online. In case of any query, you can comment down below. 

1. Visit the official website of the Journalist Welfare Scheme or directly click on the Journalist Welfare Scheme application form online link. This will directly redirect to the online application form without any hassle.
2. There you will see all the instructions that you must keep in mind while filling out the application form. These guidelines we have already covered above, therefore, you are sorted. 
3. You can also skip the instructions and directly go to the Journalist Welfare Scheme application form through the direct link.

1. After that, you need to enter your email ID and mobile number. An OTP will be sent to you by the Press Information Bureau. You need to enter that OTP and Captcha. You will then be redirected to the application form. 
2. The application form will look like this after opening.

1. Here you will be asked for various information regarding your personal and professional details. You can check that in the application form above. 
2. In order to get financial assistance, you also have to provide your bank details, for that you need to fill out the MANDATE FORM which will contain all your bank account details. You need to take the print of that after filling out the form and upload it in the application form.

1. After uploading the MANDATE Forms and other necessary documents, you will have to click the “SUBMIT” button. 
2. It is advised to fill in all the requested information with utmost care. Any mistake can lead to the rejection of your claim. 

Journalist Welfare Scheme FAQs

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