Lucknow, May 4 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday announced free vaccination for journalists and their families on priority basis.
In this regard, Mr Adityanath directed officials to allot separate vaccination centers for the journalists and their family members who are above 18 years of age.
The Chief Minister instructed the officials to ensure that all journalists get vaccinated.
'If required, go to their workplaces and administer free vaccination,' he said.
The journalists can be referred as 'frontline Covid-19 warriors' for providing seamless news feed amid rising coronavirus cases in the state, the Chief Minister said.
He also said that the journalists in the state will now get the benefit of the Centre's welfare scheme. Even the non-accredited journalists and freelancers will be benefitted under the scheme.
For this, one must have the eligibility of being recognised by the Government of India or the Government of any State and Union Territory.
Even if they are not recognised, they should have been associated with any print, electronic or web-based services for at least 5 years, then they will also come under the purview of this scheme.
Additional Chief Secretary Information Navneet Sehgal said here on Tuesday that, 'on the death of a journalist, there is a provision of giving financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to his dependents.'
Mr Sehgal also informed that in case of permanent disability, Rs 5 lakh are given to the journalist, Rs 3 lakh in case of serious illness such as cancer, renal failure, by-pass, open-heart surgery, angioplasty, brain hemorrhage and paralysis and a provision of giving 2 lakh to the journalist hospitalised for treatment due to a serious accident.
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