Odisha announces benefits for working journalists
Bhubaneswar, June 7: The Odisha government on Thursday announced a string of benefits for working journalists including a death benefit of Rs 4 lakh and financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh in cases of permanent incapacitation.
Information and Public Relations Minister Pratap Jena said the journalists will get a death benefit of Rs 4 lakh and additional financial assistance from the Directorate of Medical Education and Training (DMET) for critical illness where the expenditure exceeds Rs 2 lakh under the Health Insurance Scheme.
Earlier, the government had implemented the Gopabandhu Sambadika Swasthya Bima Jojana up to Rs 2 lakh with effect from June 1, 2018.
Over 3,000 working journalists were covered under the scheme in the first phase.
The Minister said that 3 per cent interest subvention up to Rs 25 lakh for house building loans to be provided to the journalists.
Subvention will be released annually after repayment of regular instalment with interest by journalists who have taken loans, he added.
Besides, 3 per cent interest subvention for four wheeler loan up to Rs 4 lakh and Rs 50,000 for two-wheeler loans will be provided by the government.
Educational assistance to the children of deceased working journalists will be provided at Rs 1,500 per month till Class 10 and Rs 2,500 per month for higher studies, the Minister said.
The state government will bear the cost up to Rs 10,000 per journalists to facilitate training of minimum 25 and maximum 35 journalists within the state institutions like IIMC in a block period of five years.
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Fire breaks out at Nature Bazaar in south Delhi, around 50 shops gutted
New Delhi (PTI): A major fire broke out at Nature Bazaar in south Delhi's Andheria Mor area on Sunday morning, gutting around 50 shops and triggering a massive firefighting operation, an official of the Delhi Fire Services (DFS) said.
According to the DFS, a call regarding the blaze was received at 7.37 am, following which 10 fire tenders were rushed to the spot to control the flames. No injury to anyone has been reported so far.
The fire erupted at the Nature Bazaar market located near Andheria Mor in the Lado Sarai area, where several temporary and semi-permanent shops selling handicrafts and other items are set up, he said.
Thick plumes of smoke were seen billowing from the market complex as the fire rapidly spread through multiple shops in the crowded marketplace.
Firefighters launched an extensive operation to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading further.
Around 50 shops were gutted in the incident, causing heavy damage to goods and structures, the officer said.
Fire personnel were continuing efforts to completely douse the flames and carry out cooling operations in the area. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.
Police officers also reached the spot to assist in crowd management and facilitate firefighting operations.
