CHANDIGARH, Sept 30 :The Chandigarh Press Club has become the first media club in the country to provide medical insurance to its members through a special agreement signed with New India Assurance Company. Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal today announced that the Punjab Government would contribute 50 percent of the premium required to provide a comprehensive health insurance cover to the Journalist members and their families.
Badal who was addressing a "Meet the Press" programme at the club said, "I have an announcement to make, my government wants to fulfil the assurance given in the manifesto of Shiromani Akali Dal to contribute 50 percent premium of medical insurance of Rs 1 lakh to all regular members of the Club". He said that the Shiromani Akali Dal – BJP government headed by Chief Minister, S. Parkash Singh Badal was seized of the problems faced by the journalistic community. The media, he said was the fourth pillar of Indian Democracy and Punjab Government would do everything to help the media in discharge of their duties According to the club President, Sarabjit Pandher, "underscoring its social obligation, the Chandigarh Press Club has negotiated a "tailor made" scheme with New India Assurance to provide a health and accident insurance cover to its members".
The "floater" policy comes into force from October 1 and would provide a accident cum health cover of at least Rs one lakh to each journalist, his or her spouses and up to three children. The scheme is being extended to only those journalists, who opt to be a part of the scheme. The Club has asked its regular Journalist members to furnish details and provide necessary documents to the club at the earliest.
The Finance Minister clarified that the Punjab Government would provide its share in the premium for Rs one lakh per member of the Chandigarh Press Club. However, the Club Management and the Insurance Company clarified that members could seek more coverage by paying the extra premium from their own resources. The insurance cover comes into force from tonight.