J&K Journalists Association Backs MLA Tanvir Sadiq’s Demand for Retired Media Pension Scheme

JAMMU, Feb 19, 2026 — Ashwani Kumar, President of the Jammu and Kashmir Accredited Journalists Association, has officially welcomed the proposal for a dedicated pension scheme for retired journalists, recently championed by National Conference MLA Tanvir Sadiq in the J&K Assembly.

Highlighting the tireless contributions of media professionals who uphold democratic values under often hazardous conditions, Kumar noted that Sadiq’s advocacy addresses a long-standing gap in social security for the region’s veteran reporters.

He emphasized that J&K remains an outlier compared to numerous Indian states—including Punjab, Haryana, and Maharashtra—which already provide monthly pensions ranging from ₹15,000 to ₹20,000 to senior journalists.

Given the relatively small number of eligible retirees in the Union Territory, Kumar argued that the financial impact on the exchequer would be minimal and urged a rare display of cross-party unity among the BJP, Congress, and other legislators to formalize this welfare measure immediately.