Chandigarh, July 28 – Haryana Chief Minister, Mr. Manohar Lal said that media has a very important role as the fourth pillar of democracy. The role of media has become even more important today.

The Chief Minister was interacting with the media persons after inaugurating the newly established Media Centre at Haryana Bhawan in New Delhi today. He said that media centres have been set up at all the district headquarters in Haryana. In this series, a media centre equipped with various facilities has been set up at Haryana Bhawan at a cost of Rs 41.75 lakh.

The Chief Minister said that Haryana Government has started many schemes for the welfare of the media persons. Under the pension scheme in Haryana, monthly pension facility of Rs. 10,000 is being given to the media persons and 125 media persons are so far getting this pension. Under the scheme, which was started from December, 2017, an amount of more than Rs. two crore has so far been disbursed as pension.

He said that financial assistance is provided through Journalist Welfare Fund for the emergent medical treatment of media persons and their dependents or on their demise. The Haryana Government has also provided facility of group insurance to the media persons from Rs. five lakh to Rs. 20 lakh.

Others present on this occasion included Media Advisor to Chief Minister, Mr. Amit Arya, Director General, Information, Public Relations and Languages Department, Mr. Sameer Pal Srow, and Additional Resident Commissioner, Haryana Bhawan, Mr. Chander Shekhar Khare.