Kashmir press club has welcomed the incorporation of Mediclaim scheme in the state budget for accredited working journalists of Jammu and Kashmir.
The announcement of such scheme made by the Finance Minister Dr Haseeb Drabu on the floor of the state assembly on Thursday has raised the hope among the journalist fraternity that the Mehbooba Mufti-led government is really concerned about the well-being of the journalists and feels concerned about the health care of the scribes, said a statement.
They have also appreciated that the import of newsprint has been exempted from the taxes which were, otherwise, levied at the entry point of the state. This has come a real succor for the newspaper owners of the state.
Besides these welfare measures, the Finance Minister is expected to expedite other requirements of the journalist fraternity which have been conveyed to the minister at the latest pre-budget meeting with him in Srinagar.
The president of the Club, M Saleem Pandit has appreciated the first measure like bringing in the state journalists within the ambit of the Mediclaim scheme like the one, already available to the government employees.
“It is hoped that the Finance Minister, Dr Haseeb Drabu will in future fulfill his promises made to the journalists and devise ways and measures for bringing in the accredited journalists under Pension scheme in order to make the post retirement life of the journalists here pleasant and comfortable,” he said.
Pandit urged the State Government to cooperate in making the newly established Kashmir Press Club in Srinagar, functional, so that the journalist community of the valley could have a meeting point under one roof.
He said and hoped that the Kashmir press club would emerge as one of the important visiting places for journalists of the world, who generally arrive here to cover the Kashmir news for their respective media organizations.