Patna, July 27: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday announced a significant hike in the monthly pension for retired journalists, increasing it from ₹6,000 to ₹15,000 under the state’s Bihar Patrakar Samman scheme, months ahead of state assembly elections.
In a post on social media platform X, Kumar said the enhanced pension will be provided to all eligible journalists registered with the Bihar government. The government has also revised the family pension component of the scheme. In the event of a journalist’s death, their spouse or dependent will now receive ₹10,000 per month, up from the earlier ₹3,000.
“Journalists play a crucial role in democracy. They are the fourth pillar of democracy and have a significant role in social development,” Kumar said. “We have been taking care of journalists’ facilities from the beginning so that they can perform their duties impartially and live with dignity after retirement.”
The move comes as political parties gear up for assembly elections later this year in the eastern Indian state. While Kumar did not link the announcement to the upcoming polls, the decision is likely to be seen as part of broader welfare measures aimed at consolidating support among key sections of society.
