Chandigarh (Balwinder Singh): A delegation of the Chandigarh and Haryana Journalists Union (CHJU) met Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Monday at his official residence, submitting a comprehensive memorandum addressing key professional and welfare demands for journalists across the state. Led by CHJU President Ram Singh Brar and Chairman Balwant Takshak, the representative body called for the prompt issuance of cashless medical facility cards, an upward revision in monthly journalist pensions, simplified accreditation norms, consistent public advertisement releases for small and medium publications, and the removal of distance caps on state-run bus travel concessions.
The union drew attention to the previously declared cashless medical scheme, noting that despite an official announcement to provide coverage on par with state government employees, eligible working journalists have yet to receive their cards. Addressing the pension structure, the delegation highlighted an emerging disparity where monthly disbursements for journalists remain capped at ₹15,000, whereas pensions for individuals jailed during the Emergency and the Hindi agitation were recently increased. Pointing out that several other states now provide substantially higher retirement benefits to media practitioners, the union urged the Chief Minister to expedite an equitable hike to match rising living costs.
Further representing the operational challenges faced by regional publications, CHJU appealed for the restoration of official accreditation cards for journalists affiliated with evening dailies, weeklies, fortnorthlies, and monthly periodicals. The leaders stressed that simplifying the eligibility benchmarks for press accreditation and welfare schemes would broaden social security access to reporters working in tier-two and rural circuits. Expressing optimism following the interaction, union officials noted that Chief Minister Saini gave the submission a patient hearing and adopted a constructive stance toward addressing the unresolved issues.
