According to Sarma, as promised in last Budget speech, the Pension Scheme for Jourlists has been introduced to provide retirement benefits to jourlists working for more than 20 years in the State Assam. “We’ve already distributed individual pensions of Rs. 8000 per month to many respected jourlists. We’ll continue this scheme with a provision of awarding pensions to additiol 20 jourlists each year. The necessary Budget provisions have been made. Moreover, with a view to ensuring security and protection of the jourlists and their families, I now propose to introduce a new scheme ‘Jourlist Insurance Scheme’, the guidelines and modalities of which will be prepared by the department. I am proposing adequate budget provision for the same. I have made necessary provisions for the setting up of the “Media Fellowship” for pursuing higher studies in jourlism so that 20 media persons can be selected for this fellowship at the rate of Rs. 50,000 each.”
