Chandigarh, October 26 : The Chandigarh and Haryana Journalists Union (CHJU) delegation met with Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini to fulfill several long-pending demands of the state's journalists. These include the prompt issuance of cashless medical cards, an increase in journalists' pensions, the simplification of press accreditation and pension rules to ensure broader eligibility, the provision of regular advertisements to small and medium newspapers, and the removal of the kilometer cap on free bus travel facilities for journalists.

A CHJU delegation, led by Union President Ram Singh Brar and Chairman Balwant Takshak, met the Chief Minister at his official residence and submitted a memorandum detailing these pending issues.

In the memorandum, the CHJU said that the Haryana government had previously announced the provision of cashless medical facilities for journalists similar to those offered to government employees but the scheme has yet to be implemented, and journalists have not yet received their cashless medical cards. The CHJU urged the Chief Minister to expedite the issuance of these cards for all journalists in the state. Furthermore, the union requested that accreditation cards continue to be issued to journalists working for evening dailies, weeklies, fortnightly and monthly publications, and that small and medium-sized newspapers continue to receive regular advertisements.

The union also informed the Chief Minister that the state government currently provides a monthly pension of 15,000 to journalists in Haryana. Activists who were imprisoned during the Emergency and Activists participants in the 'Hindi Andolan' (Hindi Movement), and journalists previously received the same pension amount. Recently, the state government increased the pension for those who endured torture during the Emergency and for participants of the 'Hindi Andolan'; however, no such increase was granted to journalists. CHJU said that journalists in other states are currently receiving significantly higher pensions than those in Haryana, the pension for journalists in Haryana should be increased immediately. The Chandigarh and Haryana Journalists Union has also urged the Chief Minister to simplify the rules regarding press accreditation and pension schemes rules for journalists, ensuring that a greater number of journalists can obtain accreditation and benefit from the pension scheme. Furthermore, the CHJU requested the Chief Minister to address other long-pending demands, including the removal of the kilometer-based cap on the free bus travel facility provided to journalists. CHJU leaders noted that Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini listened to the union delegation with great attention and displayed a highly positive attitude toward the journalists' demands.