Minister assures pension hike for scribes
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 27 2017:
IPR Minister Th Biswajit has assured that monthly pension given to retired journalists would be hiked.
In the backdrop of the opening of a District Information Centre at Kangpokpi yesterday, Biswajit stated that he had discussed the paltry sum given to retired journalists as pension.
The monthly pension would be hiked to a scale greater than expected by the journalist fraternity.
Chief Minister N Biren opened the District Information Centre, Kangpokpi in the presence of Th Biswajit and Social Welfare Minister Nemcha Kipgen.
Notably, Chief Minister N Biren grew up as a journalist and served as an Editor for many years before joining electoral politics.
BJP Manipur Pradesh president K Bhabananda, while addressing a public rally in the run up to the 11th Manipur Legislative Assembly election declared that the monthly pension of retired journalists would be hiked to Rs 10,000 .
However, Th Biswajit did not mention any definite amount even though he assured that the journalist pension would be hiked.
At present, retired journalist are given monthly pension of Rs 4000 while family pensioners get Rs 2000 per month.
There are about 500 journalists working in different newspaper houses and local cbale TV networks in Imphal.
There are also journalists working in newspapers/cable TVs based in other districts such as Churachandpur, Senapati, Ukhrul.