The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : VS seeks interim relief for journalists

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Sunday, Aug 05, 2007
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Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

VS seeks interim relief for journalists

Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan has urged the Wage Boards for journalists and non-journalist employees in newspapers and news agencies to recommend at least 60 per cent of the basic wages as interim relief.

During his meeting with Wage Board chairman K. Narayana Kurup and Board members here on Saturday, the Chief Minister also sought the intervention of the Wage Boards to ensure that journalists and non-journalists working in the visual media get protection of wages and better service conditions.

He pointed out that the State Government was doing its best to ensure the welfare of journalists and non-journalist employees and had instituted three pension schemes for their benefit. The Government was also supporting the health insurance scheme being run by the Kerala Union of Working Journalists. A sum of Rs.15 lakh had been earmarked in this year’s budget for the scheme. Kerala was the only State where such a scheme was in operation. Kerala was also the first State to institute pension scheme for journalists, he said.

Later, speaking to reporters, Mr. Kurup said the Wage Boards headed by him would strive to submit their report within the stipulated time-frame of three years.

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