Assam State Journalists’ Association urges CM to Hike Pension Amount

A CORRESPONDENT

BOKAKHAT: The Assam State Journalists’ Association (ASJA) on Saturday submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, requesting an increase in both the monthly pension amount for journalists and the number of beneficiaries under the existing scheme.

The memorandum, signed by ASJA president Jeetu Sharma Rajkhowa and secretary Pradeep Deka, pointed out that the journalists’ pension scheme, introduced in 2004, has seen no revision in its financial provisions. The current pension amount stands at Rs 8,000 per month, with only 20 journalists benefiting from the scheme annually.

Highlighting the sharp rise in the cost of living and escalating medical expenses, the association stated that the existing pension amount is grossly insufficient for retired journalists to sustain themselves. ASJA has demanded that the pension amount be increased to Rs 20,000 per month and the number of annual beneficiaries be doubled from 20 to 40.

The memorandum also noted that several other states, including Bihar, have already revised their journalists’ pension schemes. A copy of the memorandum has been forwarded to the Minister of Information and Public Relations, Pijush Hazarika, for further consideration.

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