Journalists should not only be provided with bus passes and fee concessions, but also be provided with honorarium and home loans – Aam Aadmi Party demands

Nirmal District October 02 (Punnami Representative) Nirmal: The Aam Aadmi Party is demanding that the central and state governments come up with special policies for the welfare of journalists, who stand as the fourth pillar of democracy and bring the problems of the people to the attention of the governments. It is demanding that journalists should not be limited to simple facilities like bus passes and 50 percent fee concessions for their children’s education, but should implement new schemes that will ensure their lives. The Aam Aadmi Party states that journalists dedicate their lives to public service and fight on public issues rain or shine, and it is the responsibility of the governments to provide them with professional recognition as well as financial security. In this context, the party is putting forward several key demands. Main demands: 1. Journalists should be provided with an honorarium in the form of a monthly pension depending on their age and service period. 2. At least 50 percent fee concession should be provided to the children of journalists in private schools and colleges. 3. Journalists who have their own land should be provided with low-interest government loans for house construction. 4. Interest subsidy on housing loans should be provided to make their dream of owning a house a reality. 5. All merit-based welfare schemes of the central and state governments should be applied to journalists. 6. Free or cashless medical services should be provided to journalists and their family members. 7. Immediate financial assistance should be provided to the families of journalists who die in the line of duty and employment should be provided to eligible family members. 8. Recognition and welfare schemes should also be applied to small newspapers, digital media and freelance journalists. 9. Special awards and incentives should be provided to journalists who bring change in society with investigative articles on public issues and innovative ideas. 10. A special monitoring system should be established to ensure job security, minimum wages and timely payment of salaries to journalists. 11. A special protection system should be brought in that will respond immediately when there are attacks and threats against journalists. 12. A special welfare board should be set up to address the issues of journalists from time to time. The Aam Aadmi Party wants governments to recognize journalists as responsible professionals who play a key role in protecting democracy, not just news writers. The party is appealing to the government to consider these demands and implement them in a phased manner, rather than limiting the welfare of journalists to a few concessions. AAP District General Secretary C.H. Vinod Kumar, Treasurer Abdul Sadhik, Constituency In-charge Mukul Rajanna, Spokesperson Vasant Rao and others participated in this program.