GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADU

ABSTRACT

 

Pension Benefit Scheme to retired Journalists in Tamil Nadu - Amendments Issued.

INFORMATION AND TOURISM (PR) DEPARTMENT

 

G.O.Ms.No.98                                                                                                                   Dated:17-4-1997

Read:

 

  1. G.O.Ms.No.147, Information and Tourism Department, Dated:3-4-1986

  2. G.O.Ms.No.489, Information & Tourism Department, Dated:6-11-1986
  3. G.O.Ms.No.139, Information & Tourism Department, Dated:1-8-1996
  4. The President, Madras Union of Journalists Memorandum, Dated:13-11-1996.

 

- - - - -

 

ORDER:

In the Government Order first read above, orders have been issued formulating the Scheme of Pensionary benefit to Journalists in Tamil Nadu.

2. In the Government Orders 2nd and 3rd read above, orders have been issued amending the Government order 1st read above.

3. The President, Madras Union of Journalists, in his Memorandum presented to the Hon'ble Minister for Information and Publicity, on 13-11-1996, has requested the Government to relax the relevant rules of the Journalist Pension Scheme to expand its scope to bring in more retired journalists who are in indigent circumstances.

4. After careful consideration, Government have decided to relax certain rules and to include the revised rules as detailed in rulings 3(c), (d) and (e) below in order to avoid go back to search for previous Government Orders for the remaining rules in force:-

 

RULINGS:-

    1. The Government have been considering the question of giving financial assistance to journalists in indigent circumstances in this State, keeping in view the special nature of services rendered by them to the society in creating a sense of socio-political awareness among the people. The propose to extend financial assistance to them and they accordingly sanction a Scheme for providing financial assistance in the form of Pension Benefits (hereinafter referred to as Pension) to the indiget Journalists in this State.
    2. The Scheme may be called 'The Scheme for Pension Benefits to the Journalists in the State of Tamil Nadu' (hereafter referred to as the Scheme).
    3. Under the scheme, a monthly pension of Rs.1,000/- (Rupees One thousand only) for life shall be paid to the Journalists possessing the eligibility criteria as detailed below:-

a) The beneficiary must have completed 58 (Fifty Eight) years of age at the time of supplying for the pension.

b) The beneficiary must have put in not less than 20 (Twenty) years of service as full-time Editor/Reporter/Sub-Editor/Press Photographer /Proof Reader/Correspondent of a Newspaper/ Periodical / News Agency, including newspapers and periodicals published in this State and News Agencies with headquarters outside the State. The beneficiary if affected with an incurable disease or physically handicapped, it is enough if he / she had a period of 10 years newspaper experience. The Director of Information and Public Relations shall be satisfied that the applicant is a Journalist.

c) At the time of applying for pension, the family income of the applicant from all sources (including pension, if any, being received by the beneficiary) shall not exceed Rs.12,000/- (Rupees twelve thousand only) per year.

 

Explanation:

"Family" for the purpose of this clause shall mean the journalists and his/her wife/husband and children excluding major children. Major children are those who are independent and separated from the parents or those who completed the age of 25 years. For female children the dated or marriage or completion of 25 years, whichever is earlier will be computed to determine the majority of female children.

d) Gratutity and other retirement monetary benefits, if any, received by the beneficiary from the former employers shall not exceed Rs.25,000/- (Rupees twenty five thousand only) per annum

e) The emoluments received/professional income earned by the beneficiary any year during his / her service of entire career shall not exceed Rs.40,000/- (Rupees Forty thousand only) per annum

(4) Persons who are already receiving pension/ honararia under Schemes, like the Old Age Pension Scheme, Scheme for financial assistance to Physically handicapped persons or the Scheme for honoraria/pensions to Artistes, Writers, if they are selected for assistance under this scheme, may opt for either rectifying assistance under this scheme or continuation of assistance being received by them under any of the aforesaid schemes.

(5) The beneficiary of the Scheme shall be required to submit his application in the prescribed form to the Director of Information and Public Relations, Chennai. who shall forward the application to the Collector of the District concerned for furnishing a report after detailed enquiry as to the eligibility of each of the application for sanction of pension. The Collector of the District in turn shall be assisted by the Information and Public Relations Officers of the concerned District, in addition to the Revenue Officials in verifying and preparing the reports. Proposals duly recommended by the Collector of the District shall be scrutinised by the Director of Information and Public Relations who shall submit these proposals for sanction by Government.

5. The rule above at 3(c), (d) and (e) will be effected from 1-4-97.

6. The expenditure is debitable to the head of account under "2235 Social Security and Welfare-60. Other Social Security and Welfare Programmes - 102 Pension under Social Security Schemes-I. Non Plan -AH. Schemes for Pension Benefits to the Journalists in the State of Tamil Nadu-27. Pensions (D.P.C.2235 60 102 AH 2705)"

7. This order issues with the concurrence of Finance Department vide its U.O.No.225/JS/SS/97 Dated :11-4-1997.

(BY ORDER OF THE GOVERNOR)

 

D. SUNDARESAN

SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT

To

All District Collectors

The Accountant General, Chennai-18

Copy to:

 

The Finance Department (SW (TH & IND), Chennai-9.

The Finance (Budget) Dept., Chennai-9

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting , New Delhi.

All Secretaries to Government,Chennai-9

All Heads of Department

All Information and Public Relations Officers in Districts.

All Treasury Officers in District.

The President, Madras Union of Journalists, Chennai-2

The Madras Reporters Guild, Chennai.2

The Information and Tourism(Budget) Dept., Chennai-9

The Information and Tourism(Accts) Dept., Chennai-9

The Pay & Accounts Officer, Chennai-9/5/35

All Journalists Pensioners

The Director of Stationery & Printing, Chennai-2

(for publishing in Gazette Notification)

The Director of Treasuries and Accounts, Chennai

The Accountant General, Chennai-9/5/35

 

FORWARDED / BY ORDER

 

PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER.