According to sources in I and PR department, 30 selected journalists will get Rs 15000 for writing four articles each on the government program.
Ranchi| As the assembly elections in Jharkhand are approaching, the Raghubar Das government has introduced a scheme to publish its welfare projects by getting journalists to write about it.
According to an advertisement published by the state, it will pay Rs 15000 to 30 selected journalist to prepare four articles on government programs. Out of these 120 stories, 25 would be selected to have complied in the booklet. Those writers whose articles get selected for booklet will be provided with an additional Rs 5000 each.
“The government has not taken this initiative on its own. Several journalists had been asking for such a scheme for a long time. If the journalists demand something from the government, then the government always tries to fulfil their demands.” said Jharkhand BJP spokesperson Deendayal.
The initiative comes months before the state election in Jharkhand. While the BJP has justified the scheme by saying that it was launched at the request of a local journalist, the Ranchi Press club denied making any such demand.
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Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad called the timing of the decision questionable.
“Everybody is aware of the dismal condition of media persons under the BJP regime. The entire public is seeing how common Journalists are being exploited and prosecuted, while owners of media channels are being pampered and managed”, said Prasad.
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