KUWJ meets DIPR to discuss pension, bus pass for journos

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: A delegation led by members of Karnataka Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) on Friday met the Commissioner of the Department of Information & Public Relations (DIPR) in Bengaluru to discuss the delayed payment of pension to retired journalists in the state.

The delegation, led by KUWJ State President Shivananda Tagaduru submitted a letter to the DIPR Commissioner Suralkar Vikas highlighting the issues faced by retired journalists who have not received their pension benefits for the last two-three months.

Most of the journalists depend on the pension for their medical expenses, the KUWJ delegation told the DIPR Commissioner.

In their letter they requested DIPR to look into the matter and release the funds withheld allegedly due to minor issues in the department. Another request highlighted in the letter was the implementation of free bus passes for rural journalists.

Even though passes have been issued in some cases, journalists are facing issues in renewing them. Commissioner Vikas assured them that the complications will be sorted out at the earliest.

A meeting will be called with the concerned officials soon after the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) for the ongoing elections is over, he said.