The Punjab and Chandigarh Journalist's delegation today met Health & Family welfare Minister Mr.Balbir Singh Sidhu at his residence to express gratitude for including them in the ‘Ayushman Bharat-Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojana’ as sixth category.The Punjab and Chandigarh Journalists's Union members led by President Balwinder Singh Jammu, said the scheme would benefit nearly 4700 journalists which would be provided health insurance up to Rs. 5 lakh regarding secondary and tertiary healthcare services in the empanelled hospitals.The Health Minister said that few days ago, Jounalist's Union had given the memorandum to him after which he brought this issue to notice of Chief Minister Punjab Captain Amarinder Singh to include journalists in the Health Insurance Scheme. He said that on the directive of Chief Minister Punjab Captain Amarinder Singh, the State Government decided to include all accredited and yellow card holders journalists under this flagship scheme. Highligting the another historical decisions taken by Captain Amarinder Singh led Punjab Government, Union President Mr. Balwinder Singh Jammu said that they also went to thank Captain Amarinder Singh at his residence for this pathbreaking initiative and announcing a pension scheme for veteran journalists, besides giving exemption to journalists from toll tax on the State highways which were remained pending from long time.
President Punjab & Chandigarh Jurnalist's Union, Chandigarh Unit, Mr. Jai Singh Chibhar said with these pro-journalist decisions, the Punjab Government had set as example for other states of country and also created media friendly atmosphere across the state.Balbir Singh Sidhu further apprised the journalists that he had already instructed the concerned authorities to speed up the procedure of enrolling of accredited and yellow card holder journalists under this scheme. He also said that the state level and Districts' authorities are working on war footing to complete the process of enrolling journalists. He assured the journalists that the State Government would provide them healthcare facilities at the earliest under this insurance scheme.The Health Minister said that it is the priority of the State Machinery to fulfill all announcements made by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh's Government for the welfare of journalists.The delegation included Union Secretary General Pritam Rupal, Senior Journalist Mr. Tarlochan Singh, Mrs. Bindu Singh, Mr. Vikramjit Singh Maan, Mrs. Kulwant Kaur, Mr. Nalin Acharaya and Mr. RS Librate, besides other members of union from district headquarters. The Health Minister was accompanied by Cabinet Minister Mr. Sundar Sham Arora & his Political Secretary Mr. Harkesh Chand Sharma.