Senior Journalists' National Conference Will Call for National Pension Scheme

Thiruvananthapuram: The first-ever national conference of the Senior Journalists in India, to be held in Thiruvananthapuram from August 19 to 21, 2025, will make a call for a national pension scheme for senior journalists, in view of the extreme disparities in social security benefits available to retired journalists in various states.

The conference is being hosted by the Senior Journalists' Forum-Kerala, an organization which has brought together most of the senior journalists in the state under its banner. It has units in all the districts of Kerala and conducts regular organizational elections and also a number of programmes for the benefit of senior journalists and their families. These include a welfare fund for meeting urgent medical expenses for those who are in financial difficulties, family get togethers, group tours for families to all parts of India, honouring journalists who have won awards and other major recognitions, etc. Members of the SJFK are represented in the various committees constituted by the State Government for journalists' welfare, including the State Pension Management Committee.

The conference will address all major concerns of the journalists in the country including the need for ensuring decent pensions for journalists in all the states, inclusion of all sections of the profession like those who worked in the desk, reporting, proof, photojournalists, etc, in the pension schemes, a nationwide health insurance scheme for senior journalists, restoration of railway concessions and other benefits for seniors, higher minimum pension in PF, etc. The conference will elect a national level committee to carry forward the campaigns and public actions to be decided by the national conference.

Around 250 delegates from 21 states are expected to participate in the conference to be held at PWD Rest House conference hall, Thycaud. It will be inaugurated by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on August 20. A national media seminar the same day will be inaugurated by eminent media analyst Sevanti Ninan. An international photo exhibition in collaboration with the Kerala Media Akademi at Bharat Bhavan will be opened by Local Self Administration Minister M B Rajesh. A solidarity meeting of eminent public persons will be held ton August 19, at the Trivandrum Press Club. It will be inaugurated by Education Minister V Sivankutty.

The delegates session on August 21 will be inaugurated by Opposition leader V D Satheesan on August 21. The concluding session, in the evening, will have former governor of Mizarom and Goa, P S Sreedharan pillai as chief guest. It will be addressed by former industries minister PK Kunhalikkutty. The conference will decide on the constitution and bylaws of the national level organization for senior journalists, and elect a national committee for further activities in various states across india.

The following persons attended the press conference:
R S Babu, Chairman, Kerala Media Academy (Mob: 9847060505), John Munakkayam, Chairman, Reception Committee (Mob: 9846061397), Kariyam Ravi, General Convener, Reception Committee (Mob: 9847387943), KP Vijayakumar, general secretary, SJFK (Mob: 9387385484), J. Ajithkumar.