J&K has no journalist welfare scheme, DIPR confirms in RTI reply
Synopsis
A formal RTI reply from J&K's DIPR has confirmed there is no journalist welfare scheme in the Union Territory — a stark admission that comes even as the Media Policy 2020 is under revision. With press freedom concerns already high in J&K, the absence of any financial safety net for journalists stands out against a backdrop of states that do offer such protections.
Key Takeaways
The Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), J&K confirmed in an RTI reply that 'no welfare scheme is in vogue for Journalists in J&K.' The RTI application was filed by Dr Shozena Amin ; the nine-page response was issued by the Public Information Officer, DIPR .
The Media Policy 2020 , approved on 29 April 2020 and valid for five years , remains in force across J&K but is reportedly under revision.
DIPR declined to provide year-wise and organisation-wise ad expenditure data, citing Section 7(9) of the RTI Act, 2005 , directing the applicant to inspect records in person.
Verification mechanisms for government ads — including telecast certificates and proof-of-play reports — are in place, but financial welfare provisions for journalists are absent.
The Jammu and Kashmir government has no welfare scheme in place for journalists, the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) has confirmed in a formal response to a Right to Information (RTI) application. The disclosure, dated 17 September 2026, comes even as the administration continues to operate under a media policy now reportedly undergoing revision.
What the RTI Revealed
The nine-page RTI response was issued by the Public Information Officer, DIPR, in reply to an application filed by Dr Shozena Amin. When asked to provide details of welfare schemes or policies available for journalists and media persons in J&K, the department stated plainly: 'No welfare scheme is in vogue for Journalists in J&K.'
The response covers the government's media advertising policy, empanelment of media organisations, advertising expenditure, and journalist welfare — or, in this case, the absence of it.
Media Policy 2020: Still in Force, Under Revision
The Media Policy 2020, which governs government advertising to media organisations, remains applicable across the Union Territory, covering both the Jammu and Kashmir divisions. It was approved by the Administrative Council on 29 April 2020 and notified through Government Order No. 05-JK(ID) of 2020 dated 15 May 2020.
The policy was originally approved for a validity period of five years, with a provision for earlier review if required. Asked whether it had since been amended, modified, replaced, extended, or renewed, DIPR stated that revision, amendment, or modification was currently under process in the Administrative Department.
Ad Expenditure Data Withheld, Applicant Directed to DIPR Office
The RTI applicant sought year-wise and organisation-wise expenditure details for government advertisements released to television, print, radio, and digital media over the previous five financial years. Rather than furnishing the consolidated figures, DIPR declined, citing Section 7(9) of the RTI Act, 2005.
The department stated that compiling year-wise and organisation-wise expenditure details, bills, and ledgers would involve a 'voluminous mass of decentralised operational records' and would disproportionately divert the resources of the public authority. The applicant was instead invited to visit the DIPR office on a working day to inspect original files, registers, and financial ledgers in person. The same response was provided for queries on television advertising, including separate spends on local J&K and national channels, as well as questions about advertising and media-buying agencies.
Verification Mechanisms Described
The RTI response does outline verification procedures for government-funded advertisements. For television, DIPR said it collects telecast certificates, transmission logs, proof-of-play reports, and recordings before making payment. For newspapers, copies are required to be submitted to DIPR before 10 a.m. on the day of publication. TV, radio, and digital media are required to provide supporting bills along with broadcast or telecast records.
DIPR also acknowledged that the department engages professional agencies, designers, and printers through empanelment or open or limited tenders under GFR 2017 rules, though detailed year-wise, agency-wise records were again characterised as voluminous and decentralised.
What This Means for J&K Journalists
The disclosure highlights a structural gap in J&K's media administration: while a formal policy framework governs advertising and empanelment, and verification procedures are prescribed, there is currently no financial safety net for journalists in the Union Territory. This is notable given that J&K has, over the years, seen significant restrictions on press activity and has ranked poorly on press freedom indicators. Notably, several other Indian states have journalist welfare funds or accreditation-linked welfare schemes, making J&K an outlier.
With the Media Policy 2020 revision reportedly under way, advocates and press bodies are likely to push for the inclusion of a welfare component in the updated framework.
Point of View
Making this an outlier — and a telling one, given J&K's fraught history with press freedom. The refusal to provide consolidated ad expenditure data under Section 7(9) also deserves scrutiny; the RTI Act's resource-burden exemption is often invoked to block legitimate financial accountability requests. Whether the revision of the Media Policy 2020 will actually address welfare is now the right question to press.
NationPress
17 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Jammu and Kashmir have a journalist welfare scheme?
No. The DIPR formally stated in an RTI response that 'no welfare scheme is in vogue for Journalists in J&K.' This means there is currently no financial safety net, accreditation-linked benefit, or insurance cover for journalists in the Union Territory.
What is the Media Policy 2020 in J&K?
The Media Policy 2020 governs how the J&K government releases advertising to media organisations. It was approved by the Administrative Council on 29 April 2020 and notified on 15 May 2020 for a validity of five years. DIPR has confirmed that a revision of the policy is currently under process.
Why did DIPR refuse to share advertising expenditure data in its RTI response?
DIPR invoked Section 7(9) of the RTI Act, 2005, arguing that compiling year-wise and organisation-wise expenditure details would disproportionately divert the department's resources due to the voluminous and decentralised nature of the records. The applicant was directed to visit the DIPR office to inspect records in person.
Who filed the RTI application that revealed the absence of a journalist welfare scheme?
The RTI application was filed by Dr Shozena Amin. The nine-page response was issued by the Public Information Officer at the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), J&K.
What happens next regarding J&K's media policy?
DIPR has indicated that revision, amendment, or modification of the Media Policy 2020 is currently under process in the Administrative Department. Press bodies and journalist associations are expected to push for welfare provisions to be included in the revised framework.
