Uniform rates in state rest houses for HP journalists

Bilaspur, Sep 28 (UNI) The Himachal Pradesh government would be considering introducing uniform rental charges for all journalists in the state owned rest houses.

Besides th governmeent is also planning enhancement in the Journalist Welfare Fund to Rs 1.80 lakh and increase in the advertisement rates for small newspapers.

This was revealed by Chief Minister, in his presidential address delivered at the State Level Annual Conference of the HP State Journalists Federation here today.

The Chief Minister said that the state government was committed to the welfare of the working journalists and various facilities were being extended to them in discharging their duties more conveniently. He said that in his earlier term the state government had extended many facilities to the journalists.

He said that the state government would be taking effective steps to ensure that all the accreditated journalists at different levels were charged uniformly and there was no discrimination in the rental charges at rest houses.

He said that the Journalilsts Welfare Fund created with Rs one lakh would also be enhanced to Rs 1.80 lakh.

He said that there had been consistent demand from the non-DAVP approved small newspapers to increase their advertisement rates. He said that the state government would be examining the possibilities of enhancing the rates by at least 35 per cent.

UNI XC HS VN1947