[icernet] Centre considering Group Insurance scheme for journalists

[Arul Selvan]

A Group Insurance scheme for mediapersons is under Government's 
consideration and altogether seven journalists or their family members 
have been given ex-gratia relief of Rs. one Lakh each from the 
Journalists' Welfare Fund, the Rajya Sabha was informed today. As on 
date, the balance principal amount in the Fund, set up with a corpus of 
Rs. five crore, is Rs.4.93 crore, Information and Broadcasting Minister 
Sushma Swaraj said during Question Hour. She said the fund was created 
for providing ex-gratia relief to journalists or their families.

Responding to supplementaries, Minister of State for Information and 
Broadcasting Ramesh Bains said every year Rs.45 lakh was received as 
interest from the amount. About the source of the fund, both the 
Ministers said other than the interest from the principal amount, there 
was provision for accepting donations. "Money is no constraint," Swaraj 
assured the House, while Bains said the Governemnt was considering a 
proposal for group insurance scheme for mediapersons.

Source:
http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=99746