CHJU delegation meets Haryana CM Saini, seeks pension hike, cashless medical cards for journalists
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, October 26, 2026: The Chandigarh and Haryana Journalists Union (CHJU) has urged Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini to expedite the issuance of cashless medical cards to journalists, increase their monthly pension and simplify press accreditation and pension rules.
A delegation led by CHJU president Ram Singh Brar and chairman Balwant Takshak met Saini at his official residence and submitted a memorandum outlining the long-pending demands of journalists in the state.
In the memorandum, the union said the Haryana government had announced cashless medical facilities for journalists on the lines of government employees, but the scheme had yet to be implemented and medical cards had not been issued. It urged the government to expedite the process and extend the facility to all eligible journalists.
The union also sought the restoration of press accreditation for journalists working with evening dailies, weeklies, fortnightly and monthly publications. It called for regular advertisements for small and medium-sized newspapers to support their operations.
The CHJU further demanded an increase in the monthly pension of Haryana journalists, which currently stands at Rs 15,000, according to the union.
It said journalists had historically received pensions on a par with activists imprisoned during the Emergency and participants in the Hindi movement. However, while the state government had recently increased pensions for those who suffered during the Emergency and those associated with the Hindi movement, journalists' pensions had remained unchanged.
The union argued that journalists in several other states were receiving higher pensions and urged the Haryana government to revise the amount.
The delegation also called for simplifying press accreditation and journalist pension rules so that more eligible journalists could access the benefits. It sought the removal of the kilometre limit on free bus travel for journalists and urged the government to expedite action on all other pending demands.
According to the union leaders, Saini listened to the delegation's concerns and responded positively to the demands.
Photo caption: A delegation of the Chandigarh and Haryana Journalists Union, led by president Ram Singh Brar and chairman Balwant Takshak, meets Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and submits a memorandum on journalists' demands. headlinenshoudl metojn union name and that it met CM