Senior Journalists’ Federation Holds National Executive Meeting in Delhi to Discuss Welfare of Retired Journalists

New Delhi: The National Executive Committee of the Senior Journalists’ Federation of India (SJFI) met in New Delhi on July 26 to deliberate on issues concerning the welfare of senior journalists. The meeting focused particularly on ensuring pension benefits and quality healthcare facilities for retired journalists.

The Federation has been established exclusively for the welfare of senior journalists. Membership is open only to those who are above 58 years of age and have worked as professional journalists for at least 15 years.

The meeting was attended by several distinguished senior journalists, including Rajdeep Sardesai, Neena Vyas, R. Ramachandran, Sandeep Dikshit, George Kalivayalil, and Amarendra Kumar Rai. It was organized by the Delhi Unit of the Senior Journalists’ Federation. Reena Sharma, a dedicated member of the Delhi Unit, played a significant role in making the event successful. Using her extensive contacts, she arranged accommodation, meals, and other facilities for delegates from across the country at Bodoland Bhavan.

The Executive Committee emphasized strengthening the organization and intensifying efforts for the welfare of journalists. The Federation was founded in Kerala in 2025. Within a year, its units have been established in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Puducherry, Delhi, and several other regions. Senior journalists are also actively working to build the organization in Madhya Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Assam, and West Bengal. It was resolved that the organizational network across the country would be completed before December.

The next National Executive Committee meeting of the Federation has been proposed for 2027 in Bengaluru. The Karnataka Unit has offered to host the meeting. Before that, states which have not yet held their state-level conferences will organize them in their respective states. Representatives from more than a dozen states participated in the Delhi meeting.

To strengthen the organization across the country, India has been divided into five zones, with one coordinator assigned to each. These zones are South India, West India, North India, Northeast India, and Central India. For the time being, Central India has been placed under the West India zone, and its affairs will be supervised by the coordinator for West India. A separate coordinator for Central India will be appointed at a later stage.

During the meeting, delegates from different states shared information about the condition of journalists in their respective regions, the welfare measures currently available to them, and the additional initiatives required to improve their situation. Special emphasis was placed on securing a dignified pension scheme and comprehensive healthcare facilities for senior journalists across the country.