Srinagar, July 26, KDC: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday announced that the monthly pension for retired journalists had been raised from Rs 6,000 to Rs 15,000, adding that since they “played a vital role in democracy, their welfare should be prioritised”.
“I am delighted to announce that we have instructed the department to increase the monthly pension amount for eligible journalists under the Bihar Journalist Samman Pension Scheme from ₹6,000 to ₹15,000,” Kumar said in a post on X.
“Additionally, in the event of a journalist’s passing while receiving pension benefits under this scheme, their dependent spouse will now receive a monthly pension of ₹10,000 for life, up from ₹3,000. Journalists play a vital role in a democracy, serving as the fourth pillar and contributing significantly to social development. We have consistently prioritised journalists’ welfare, ensuring they can perform their duties impartially and live with dignity after retirement,” he added.
The Bihar government had started the pension scheme in 2019. Any accredited journalist with a minimum of 20 years of experience at the district or state level is eligible for pension.
This announcement has sparked conversation among the journalist fraternity in Jammu and Kashmir, where no such scheme currently exists. Despite facing years of frontline reporting and enduring professional challenges, journalists in J&K have no formal policy for post-retirement support, leaving many veteran scribes in financial insecurity.
