ALSO ENHANCES THE FREE TRAVEL LIMIT
· CM ALSO APPROVES CONSTRUCTION OF PRESS CLUBS IN MAJOR CITIES
· MAJOR PROMISES FOR MEDIA FRATERNITY IN THE MANIFESTO FULFILLED
· Rs. 5 LAKH INSURANCE FOR ACCREDITED JOURNALISTS
Chandigarh, July 2: The Punjab government today took a major decision to allow free travel facility to all accredited journalists, Sub-editors and proof readers of daily newspapers based in the districts and at the headquarter also in AC buses of Punjab roadways and PRTC. The government has also decided to enhance the free travel limit from Rs.1200 to Rs.1600 for Media persons posted in Headquarter and Rs.800 to Rs.1200 for Media persons posted in districts.
Disclosing this here today Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, Information & Public Relations Minister said that SAD-BJP government had promised in the manifesto regarding this and took no time to accept this major and long pending demand of media persons that would facilitate their travel in the state for discharging their duty. He said that budget provision for travel to the journalists has also been doubled in this budget.
Announcing another major decision Mr. Majithia said that Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal has also accorded in principle approval to the proposal of Public Relations department to construct Press Clubs in various cities to facilitate the journalists to effectively discharge their duties. He said that the department has made initial provision of Rs.1 crore for the construction of Press Clubs that could be increased as per requirement. Mr. Majithia said that these clubs would be constructed in all big cities in a phased manner fulfilling the major promise in the manifesto.
The Public Relations Minister said that department was also giving free insurance cover of Rs.5 lac to all accredited journalists already. He said that SAD-BJP government was committed for free and objective press and was committed to provide all facilities to the journalists to effectively discharge their duties.
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