Bhubaneswar: The state government on Thursday announced special welfare measures for working journalists in the state.

According to the announcement, in the event of the death of a working journalist, the person's family will receive a compensation of Rs 4 lakh. Nearly 3,000-odd working journalists accredited to the state government and district administrations will benefit from the scheme.

Announcing the scheme, information and public relations minister Pratap Jena said: "Working journalists across the state will avail of the benefits. In case of permanent incapacitation, they will get Rs 2 lakh. For the treatment of critical injuries, the government will also provide more funds."

According to the notification, in addition to health insurance benefits there will be top-up financial assistance with the approval of the director of medical education and training.

Jena said working journalists could avail of three per cent interest subvention up to a maximum of Rs 25 lakh for house building. Loanee journalists will be eligible for subvention or monetary help only after repaying regular instalments with interest every year.

The notification also encourages journalists to buy four-wheelers and two-wheelers. The government has announced 3 per cent interest subvention for four-wheeler loan up to Rs 4 lakh and 3 per cent interest subvention for loan upto Rs 50,000.

Similarly, till class X an education assistance of Rs 1,500 per month will be given to children of deceased working journalists, while the amount will be Rs 2,500 for higher studies. To hone skills of journalists, the state government has decided to provide them training at premier institutes.

The notification reads: "To facilitate 3 days/one week/ two-week training of minimum 25 and maximum 35 journalists within state institutes like the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, training cost up to Rs 10,000 per journalists will be borne by the government in a block period of five years."

The Naveen Patnaik government's announcement of a special package for working journalists comes as a boon for the scribes in the background of a number of journalists passing away without getting proper treatment for the lack of funds.

Reacting to the announcement, Mandakini Mohapatra, 51, considered herself unlucky. She said the package for journalists came a month after her journalist husband Radhanath Mohapatra, 56, died due to cardiac arrest.

"Had the package been announced then, he might have got government help and survived," she said.