Govt completes preparations for accident insurance for journalists

KATHMANDU, Sept 14: The government has completed all necessary preparations to provide insurance against accidents to all working and freelance journalists across the country.

According to the Department of Information (DoI), the accident insurance worth Rs 500,000 will be provided to all journalists, who have received press accreditation cards from the DoI and membership from Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ)."Journalists will have to bear 25 percent of the total insurance cost while the government will pay the remaining 75 percent of it," said DoI Director General Laxmi Bilas Koirala.

FNJ President Dr Mahendra Bista along with other office bearers on Monday held interaction with the DoI officials on the implementation of the insurance in case of accidents to journalists. FNJ will collect the amount to be borne by the working journalists and hand over to the DoI to implement the accident insurance.

DoI Director General Koirala said they have already invited tender after completing all necessary preparations. Nepal Life and General Insurance Company has agreed to provide insurance coverage against accidents to journalists for Rs 339 a year.

As per the arrangement, each journalist will have to bear Rs 85 a year for accident insurance worth Rs 500,000. The DoI plans to start the accident insurance beginning from October 18 in the first phase. Concerned media houses are requested to submit details of journalists with copies of press accreditation card and FNJ membership card along with required amount by October 2. FNJ President Dr Bista asked all journalists to be part of the insurance package.

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