Jammu, Jul 20: The Jammu and Kashmir Accredited Journalists Association (JKAJA) has urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to take immediate steps to establish a comprehensive social security framework for working and retired journalists by implementing a Journalists Welfare Fund Scheme, introducing a monthly pension scheme, constituting a Jammu and Kashmir Media Commission, and setting up a fresh Accreditation Committee.
In a statement issued here, JKAJA President Ashwani Kumar said that while journalists have dedicated their lives to strengthening democracy and serving society through fearless reporting, a large number of media professionals, particularly retirees, continue to face severe financial hardship, health challenges, and institutional neglect.
Ashwani Kumar said the condition of retired journalists in Jammu and Kashmir is deeply concerning. Once they leave active employment, many are left without any structured pension, health insurance, or institutional support, unlike several other professions that provide retirement security. Senior journalists often struggle with declining incomes, rising medical expenses, family responsibilities, and age-related health problems.
He further expressed concern that in recent years, journalists have increasingly faced legal intimidation, harassment, and professional insecurity while performing their constitutional duty of reporting in the public interest.
The Association has appealed to the Chief Minister to introduce a State Journalists’ Pension Scheme with a minimum monthly pension of ₹20,000 for retired accredited and working journalists; include journalists in a subsidized government healthcare scheme on the lines of the MEDISEP model implemented in Kerala; and establish a Jammu and Kashmir Journalists Welfare Fund to provide financial assistance during medical emergencies, housing distress, and other unforeseen hardships.
The Association said this scheme was prepared during the Mehbooba Mufti government with ₹2 crore sanctioned, but the government fell before implementation. It called for earmarking 10 percent of the government advertisement budget released through the Information Department until media organisations establish comprehensive social security mechanisms.
The JKAJA urged the government to constitute a Jammu and Kashmir Media Commission, headed by a retired Judge of the Supreme Court of India, on the pattern of judicial wage boards, to undertake a comprehensive study of structural challenges confronting the media sector and recommend long-term policy reforms. It further urged the government to constitute a fresh Accreditation Committee to ensure transparency and fairness in the accreditation process.
Ashwani Kumar said that despite the vital contribution made by journalists to democratic governance and public accountability, there has been little institutional effort to study or address the hardships faced by retired media professionals. “The continued neglect of journalists after retirement reflects poorly on our collective commitment to democratic values and freedom of the press. The Government of Jammu and Kashmir must act decisively to ensure that those who devoted their lives to public service are able to live with dignity, security and respect,” he added.
