IPR Minister appeals all stakeholders to work cohesively for welfare of media fraternity
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, September 19 2019: Information and Public Relations Minister Thongam Biswajit Singh has said that since coming to power in early 2017, the State BJP led Government has been taking up welfare schemes for all sections of the people including the journalists' fraternity.

Addressing media at his Secretariat office conference hall yesterday, Biswajit said that the welfare schemes for media persons are implemented through Department of Information and Public Relations, Government of Manipur in collaboration with All Manipur Working Journalists' Union, Editors Guild, Manipur and Manipur Hill Journalists' Union.

Regarding recent media reports citing mismanagement in journalist pension fund, the Minister stated that the Manipur Working Journalists Pension Rules was introduced in the year 1996 .

Initially, the rate of monthly pension was fixed at Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 for pensioners and family members respectively, and in 2014, the pension amount was again revised to Rs 4,000 and Rs 2,000 respectively.

At present, 20 pensioners are regularly availing monthly pension, out of which 8 are retired pensioners and 12 are family pensioners.

DIPR is working out to revise and increase the pension amount for journalist pensioners and family members under the Manipur Working Journalists Pension Scheme, MWJPS.

He continued that in October 2001, a sum total of Rs 10 lakh was deposited at the Imphal Post Office under Kishan Vikas Patra Fixed Deposit Scheme for a maturity period of 100 months (KVP Certificates numbers from 03GG182310 upto 03GG182329) .

In 2006, Rs 1 lakh was kept as fix deposit in 2006 at Imphal Post Office (A/C No 18005), he said adding that in January 2008 the amount matured to Rs 1,06,708 .

The All Manipur Working Journalists' Union, AMWJU deposited another Rs 2 lakhs in October 2008.The directorate subsequently refunded Rs 2,310 to AMWJU as per letter received dated June 3, 2009 .

At the Committee meeting held on February 27, 2009, the committee was informed that from the matured amount of Kishan Vikas Patra (Rs 20,11,680), a sum of Rs 15 lakh to be deposited as fix deposit at SBI as Special Term Deposit Receipt, STDR for 1000 days in pursuance of the decision of the Manipur Working Journalists' Pension Committee meeting.

The fix deposit amount under STDR matured to Rs 18,08,903 which was automatically transferred back to the pension fund account.

Since the introduction of the pension scheme, Rs 45,33,141 has been utilised as payment towards pension, payment as lump sum one�time pension, refund of subscriptions and expenditure incurred in maintaining the pension account.

The Minister stated that as per available office records, there is no misuse of funds from the pension account and welcomed all the stakeholders to put up any query regarding the various schemes with the concerned officials.

He appealed to all the stakeholders to work cohesively for the welfare of the media fraternity.

It may be mentioned that every transaction pertaining to journalists' pension is being operated under the account of Manipur Working Journalists Pension Committee, SBI, Secretariat Branch (A/C No 10329730598) .

The pension fund account closing balance is at Rs 12, 27,479.95 upto August 17, 2019 .

Director, Information & Public Relations Heisnam Balkrisna Singh and Assistant Publicity Officer (Press) Tenshubam Sangeeta also attended the press meet.

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