Manipur govt declares jounalists 'frontline warriors'; will vaccinate them on priority

Joining several states across India, Manipur govt too has designated journalists as frontline workers prioritising ir inoculation for COVID-19. Issuing a statement on Wednesday, Manipur CM N Biren Singh stated that govt recognised effort of journalists and risk y're exposed to while covering COVID-19. He tweeted that all accredited working journalists will be recognised as frontline warriors and state govt will now vaccinate all journalists on a priority.

Manipur govt to vaccinate journalists on priority

Apart from Manipur, several states like Uttar Presh, Odisha, Bihar, Tamil Nu, Mhya Presh, Punjab, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Uttar Presh, Karnataka and Kerala too have prioritised vaccinating journalists, declaring m frontline workers. Although Maharashtra government has not me any such announcement on journalists, Maharashtra Minister Balasaheb Thorat on Tuesday said he has written to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray urging him to consider journalists as frontline workers to ensure that y get vaccinated against COVID-19. According to a study conducted by Delhi-based Institute of Perception Studies, as many as 101 journalists have succumbed to COVID-19 between 1 April, 2020 and 28 April, 2021.

study states that over 50 journalists have passed away due to COVID-related complications since January 2021. While Centre has not recognised journalists as frontline workers, Centre has enforced Journalist Welfare Scheme (JWS)  to help immediate families of journalists who have died due to COVID-19. JWS scheme, under Ministry of Information & Brocasting, has been in force since 5 March 2019.

What is Journalists Welfare Scheme (JWS)?

Under JWS, a journalist who is an Indian citizen, accredited to PIB or non-accredited but a journalist for minimum five continuous years, is eligible for relief from Scheme in case of death, permanent disabilities, major ailments, accidents causing serious injuries. payment under scheme will be me from Centre's annual budgetary allocations under JWS and govt committee may recommend higher assistance if necessary or suggest deviations. financial grant under scheme to any working journalist is not a 'matter of right' and will be extended depending on Committee's satisfaction regarding merits of case. 

Key features of Scheme:

• Upto Rs 5 Lakhs provided to family under extreme hardship on account of death of journalist
• Upto Rs 5 lakhs to journalist in case of permanent disability rendering him incapable of earning a livelihood
• Upto Rs 3 lakhs for treatment of major ailments like cancer, renal failure, heart ailments, angioplasty, brain hemorrhage and paralytic attack
• Upto Rs 2 lakhs in case of accidents causing serious injuries necessitating hospitalisation