Chennai: The assistance to families of journalists was increased from Rs five lakh to Rs 10 lakh within 24 of the newly elected office bearers of the Chennai Press Club placing the demand before Chief Minister M K Stalin, whom they met on Tuesday.
The orders were issued on Wednesday by the government that had been implementing several schemes for the benefit of the journalists in the State, including the setting up of the Journalists Welfare Board that now has 3,335 members all over the State.
Though the previous government had formed a committee to study the possibilities of setting up the welfare board for journalists, it did not initiate any steps towards its implementation, an official press release said on Wednesday.
However, the DMK government, soon after assuming office started implementing several welfare measures, one after the other, like increasing journalists’ pension from Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000, family pension from Rs 5000 to Rs 6000 and the solatium to the family of journalists dying in harness from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh, the release said.
