Shri Biplab Kumar Deb, Hon’ble Chief Minister, Government of Tripura.
Dear Shri Biplab Kumar Deb Ji,
Sub: Medical and financial assistance to protect Journalists who are reporting Covid-19 cases.
Indian Journalists Union (IJU), the premier organization of media persons in the country, whole- heartedly support the constructive measures taken by Tripura government headed by you in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic virus.
We welcomed the Central government decision that any health professional, while treating COVID-19 patients meets with some accident, will be compensated with an amount of Rs. 50 lakh under the Government’s insurance scheme.
Since the media persons take the risk while reporting the deadly virus I request you to cover all of them including Mofussil Reporters in rural areas in this medical scheme. Also provide them personal protective medical gears. In Mumbai 3 Journalists and 1 in Madhya Pradesh were affected by Covid-19 and many are under observation and house quarantine in some other parts of the country.
A number of Journalists are also facing financial hardship because their managements are unable to pay their salary due to fall in revenue from advertisement because of lockdown. In this situation you may help them financially also in deserving cases.
Telangana government had extended support by giving free ration and other help to the Journalists. Tamil Nadu government had also sanctioned Rs.3000 to each Journalist to tide over the financial crisis due to the lockdown.
Our Journalist friends will be in touch with your government to get support to media persons in distress during the extended lockdown to fight Cvoid-19 pandemic.
With kind regards,
(B.R.Prajapati, President & G. Prabhakaran, Secretary General, IJU) New Delhi, April 16, 2020