New Delhi: The Working Journalists of India (WJI) Union submitted a detailed memorandum to former Delhi Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan, pressing for long-pending demands concerning medical and pension benefits for journalists accredited by the Delhi Government.
The delegation, led by National President Sanjay Kumar Upadhyay, National General Secretary Narendra Bhandari, and Delhi Unit President Sandeep Kumar Sharma, highlighted pressing issues faced by media personnel in the capital.
Dr. Harsh Vardhan, known for introducing the Delhi Press Reporters Medical Aid Rules 1995 during his tenure, was apprised of the current challenges in accessing medical facilities due to policy gaps and administrative hurdles.
The union recalled that these rules had once granted journalists and their families the same medical privileges as Class One Gazetted Officers of the Central or State Governments. However, over time, the implementation became inconsistent and ineffective, leading to serious difficulties for accredited journalists.
According to the memorandum, one of the key issues lies in the issuance of health cards. While the Directorate of Information and Publicity (DIP) of the Delhi Government issues health cards to accredited journalists, these are not recognized by the Directorate General of Health. As a result, journalists are often denied access to medical facilities available to senior government officers in both public and empanelled private hospitals.
The delegation pointed out that the Press Information Bureau (PIB)-accredited journalists under the Central Government benefit from such facilities by paying an annual fee, a model that could be replicated by the Delhi Government.
They suggested that accredited journalists in Delhi are willing to make similar financial contributions, provided the Directorate General of Health begins issuing official health cards and provides full access to medical services.
Additionally, the journalists raised concern over numerous unpaid medical bills that have been pending for over two years. They urged Dr. Harsh Vardhan to intervene and ensure that the outstanding dues are cleared without further delay.
A second major demand presented in the memorandum was the implementation of a pension scheme for Delhi journalists. The union cited examples from other states like Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Odisha, where monthly pension benefits are provided to retired journalists.
Despite multiple representations to the Delhi Government, this demand has yet to be fulfilled. The union proposed a monthly pension of ₹15,000 for journalists who have been accredited for at least ten years and are above the age of 60, irrespective of whether they are currently active in the field.
The memorandum also referred to a Himachal Pradesh High Court ruling directing the state government to implement journalist pensions, underscoring the legal precedence for such a move. The journalists expressed hope that Delhi, being the national capital, would lead by example and ensure financial security for senior members of the press community.
In their proposal, the journalists also called for the formation of a joint committee comprising Delhi Government officials and representatives from the journalist union. The purpose of the committee would be to review the current issues and propose actionable solutions in a time-bound manner.
Dr. Harsh Vardhan, while receiving the memorandum, expressed solidarity with the concerns raised. He recalled that several journalist-friendly initiatives were launched during the BJP-led Delhi Government in 1995, but were subsequently discontinued by successive governments led by the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party.
While clarifying that he is not currently in office, Dr. Harsh Vardhan assured the union representatives that he would raise the matter with current BJP leaders in power and push for effective measures to address the journalists’ grievances.
He stated, “A memorandum has been submitted to me by the Working Journalists of India, and I stand with their rightful demands. I will urge the government to take prompt and effective steps to restore and enhance facilities for Delhi’s journalists.”
Prominent journalists present at the meeting included Balram Sharma, Mani Arya, Rajesh Khanna, Ish Malik, Shivaji Sarkar, Mahesh Dhondiyal, Mahendra, Sumit Upadhyay, and Pawan Juneja. The delegation left the meeting hopeful that their long-pending issues would finally gain the attention they deserve.
