 bill  no  x of  2008 the working journalists and other newspaper employees (conditions of service) and miscellaneous provisions (amendment) bill, 2008 a billfurther to amend the working journalists and other newspaper employees (conditions of service) and miscellaneous provisions act, 1955be it enacted by parliament in the fifty-ninth year of the republic of india as follows:—short title and commencement1  (1) this act may be called the working journalists and other newspaper employees(conditions of service) and miscellaneous provisions (amendment) act, 2008(2) it shall come into force with immediate effectinsertion of new sections 13ab, 13ac and 13ad''13ab (1) the central government shall establish a fund to be called as the working journalists welfare fund which shall consist of:—establishment of working journalists welfare fund(a) a contribution of rupees seventy-five crore by the central government;5(b) a monthly contribution from working journalists at such rate as may bedetermined by the board of trustees constituted under section 13ac;(c) voluntary donations from any individual or organization; and(d) contributions from newspaper establishments in such manner as may be prescribed (2) the board of trustees shall manage the fund in such manner as may be prescribed10constitution of board of trustees13ac the central government shall constitute a board of trustees which shall consistsof,—(a)  a chairman who shall be nominated by the central government;15(b) such other members as in the opinion of the central government are required to manage the fund to be elected from amongst the representatives of organizations representing the working journalists and other newspaper employees of the country 13ad the board of trustees shall,—functions of board of trustees(a) provide adequate financial assistance to the dependents of a workingjournalist who succumbs to untimely death due to an accident or otherwise;20(b) provide adequate financial assistance to the working journalists in case ofinfirmity or disability due to an accident or old age; and(c) undertake such welfare measures for working journalists as may be considered appropriate statement  of  objects  and  reasonsours is a democratic country in a democratic country press is considered as the fourth estate the press plays a very vital role through its proper functioning in a democratic nation journalists too play an important role in the smooth functioning of the press by covering news of public importance today is the age of information technology and journalists have to put in extra efforts for gathering news undeterred by adverse milieu and violence sometimes, they have to risk their lives in performing their duties there have also been incidents in which journalists either lost their lives or have become physically handicapped in the accident in such a situation, the family members and dependents of such journalists have been left helplessit is, therefore, essential to amend the existing statute  "the working journalists and other newspaper employees (conditions of service) and miscellaneous provisions act, 1955" in order to establish fund for the welfare of working journalists who are engaged in various newspapers establishments in the country this will go a long way in inculcating a sense of fearlessness in the minds of working journalistshence, the billjai  parkash  aggarwal financial memorandumclause 2 of the bill provides for the establishment of the working journalists welfare fund and constitution of a board of trustees the bill, if enacted, will involve expenditure from the consolidated fund of india it is estimated that a sum of about rupees seventy-five crore is likely to be incurred as recurring expenditure per annuma non-recurring expenditure of rupees fifteen crore is also likely to be incurred thereon———— a billfurther to amend the working journalists and other newspaper employees (conditions of service) and miscellaneous provisions act, 1955————(shri jai parkash aggarwal, mp)gmgipmrnd—4746rs(s-5)—29-12-2008