West Bengal Increases Pension and Health Benefits for Journalists

West Bengal Chief Minister announced a raise in the monthly social security pension for retired journalists, doubling it to Rs 5,000 starting September 1, 2026. This change helps more media staff, including those who did not have press accreditation before.

Health support for media families

Along with the pension increase, the government launched Mukhyamantri Swasthya Bima Yojana. This scheme gives journalists and their families cashless medical treatment up to Rs 5 lakh. Coverage includes 38,000 government and private hospitals across India, such as AIIMS and CMC Vellore. Officials confirmed that you do not need political recommendations to get these benefits. This scheme works alongside existing support like the West Bengal Swasthya Sathi program that covers state residents.

Also, the government made Durga Puja financial support equal for all journalists, ensuring those in districts receive the same Rs 3,000 as those in Kolkata. The administration plans to increase the number of beneficiaries beyond the current 150 retired journalists.