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West Bengal Pension Scheme for Journalists 2018

West Bengal Pension Scheme for Journalists

West Bengal Pension Scheme for Journalists 2018

The media is considered to be the fourth pillar of our democracy. The West Bengal Government recognizes the essential role of journalists in the nation and their contributions towards the development of the society. Hence, West Bengal state Government has decided to provide them financial support by introducing the ‘West Bengal Pension Scheme for Journalists 2018’ on the first of April 2018. This scheme will provide the eligible journalist with periodical pension amounts.

Features

  • As per the scheme, the journalists will be granted a sum of Rs.2,500 per month.
  • Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) and National Electronic Fund Transfer ( NEFT) will be used to transfer the pension to the concerned bank account of the beneficiaries.
  • Cultural Affairs Department and Government of West Bengal will implement the scheme.

Eligibility Criteria

The scheme is applicable to all the journalists of the state of West Bengal, who have attained the age of 60 years and retired from the job of a journalist. Photo journalist, correspondent, camera person and journalist engaged in news production would be eligible.

However, while submitting the application, no other pension should be drawn by the applicant except for Employees Provident Fund. Also, the applicant should not be associated with any financial organizations and should not receive any regular salary or monthly emoluments from any other organization..

The benefits of the scheme are only extended to journalists. The applicant should have worked as a Journalist for at-least a period of ten years in the state from the date of retirement. Accreditation must be received by the applicant from the Government of West Bengal for his/her services.

Enrollment Procedure

The application should be submitted in the prescribed format to the Principal Secretary, Information and Cultural Affairs Department, Government of West Bengal, along with the following documents:

  • Age proof document which consists of the Date of Birth.
  • Non-employment certificate and monthly income specifying details as certified from Group – A Government officer.
  • Details of the concerned bank account.
  • Two copies of signed passport size photographs.
  • Photocopy of the press Accreditation card.
  • Declaration in the form of an Affidavit to the effect regarding sub-clause (b), (c) and (e) of Clause 5, in the format ” Annexure II- A and II – B of the scheme.
  • For annual renewal, The applicant should submit an employment certificate from a Group-A government officer within March of every year.
  • A state-level screening committee will recommend the application to the state government for the enrollment if the concerned journalists are found eligible.
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