A powerful voice for seasoned media professionals, the Senior Journalists’ Forum of Karnataka, has formally appealed to the State government. Their primary goal is to significantly relax the strict eligibility rules currently governing monthly pensions, aiming to ensure these vital benefits reach all journalists who have reached the age of 60.
During their recent annual general body meeting in Bengaluru, the forum members achieved a unanimous resolution. They emphasized that any journalist with at least 20 years of service in media organizations recognized by the Department of Information and Public Relations, and who is 60 years or older, should automatically qualify for the monthly pension scheme.
Beyond pensions, the forum also put forth a crucial demand: that official accreditation issued by the department should be granted lifelong validity for journalists who have maintained it for two decades or longer.
K. Shanthakumari, Secretary of the Senior Journalists’ Federation of India (SJFI), spoke passionately at the event, strongly criticizing the government for what she termed ‘unreasonable restrictions.’ She advocated for a standardized, nationwide pension system that would provide consistent support to senior journalists throughout India.
Echoing these sentiments, Shastri Ramachandaran, an executive committee member of the SJFI, called upon the government to establish a comprehensive national health and pension policy for journalists, to be administered through state channels. He additionally pressed for the restoration of railway travel concessions for senior journalists and proposed the formation of a National Media Commission. This commission would be tasked with evaluating the current state of the media industry and specifically addressing the often-challenging living conditions faced by many retired journalists.