Journalists play an important role in strengthening the democracy: ICA Minister

By TC News Desk

Agartala, 17^th January 2023: Agartala, January 17, 2023: ICA minister Sushanta Chowdhury on Tuesday said that the current government has introduced health insurance for government accredited journalists working in the state. The health insurance will cover medical services up to three lakh rupees per annum. With the aim of bringing more number of journalists under this health insurance, the state government has taken the initiative of providing accreditation cards to journalists, he added.

While distributing accreditation cards among journalists and photo-journalists working various media houses at an event in Civil Secretariat here on Tuesday morning, Chowdhury said that a total of 337 accredited journalists including old and new have been taken under health insurance. As a result, journalists can take advantage of medical services in various reputed hospitals in India. A total of 189 new journalists have been given accreditation cards. Moreover, 141 journalists have been given renewed accreditation cards and 25 senior journalists have been given accreditation cards.

In the event, 11 journalists from print media and 13 journalists from electronic media were formally handed over accreditation cards.

Giving detailed information about health insurance in the event, the ICA minister said that the annual health insurance premium for journalists aged between 21 and 35 years is Rs 5,595 excluding GST. Out of this, the state government will bear Rs 4 thousand 476 and journalists will have to pay Rs 1 thousand 119.

Annual insurance premium for journalists between 35 and 45 years of age is Rs 7,147 excluding GST. Out of that, the state government is paying Rs 6 thousand 358 and journalists are paying Rs 1 thousand 581. Annual insurance premium for 45 to 55 year old is Rs 13,672 excluding GST. The state government will bear Rs 10,138 and the journalists will have to pay Rs 2,734. In case of journalists between 55 and 65 years of age, the amount of insurance premium is Rs 17 thousand 907 without GST. Of this, Rs 14 thousand 326 should be paid by the state government and the remaining 581 thousand rupees to the insurers. He urged journalists to renew this health insurance every year.

Secretary of the ICA department Dr PK Chakraborty and ICA Director Ratan Biswas were also present in the event.