Lok Sabha Question No. 1967 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-30
Subject: Assistance to PIB Accredited Journalist
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Ranjeeta Koli, Naba (Hira) Kumar Sarania

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1967 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.07.2021

## ASSISTANCE TO PIB ACCREDITED JOURNALIST

## 1967.  SHRIMATI RANJEETA KOLI: SHRI NABA KUMAR SARANIA:

## Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be please to state:

- a) the  norms  being  followed/guidelines  issued  for  providing  Press  Information Bureau (PIB) accredition including the mechanism in place to ensure transparency in granting accreditions;
- b) the number of applications received for obtaining PIB accredition along with the number of those approved and those refused indicating the reasons during the last three years;
- c) the  total  number  of  accredited  journalists  in  the  country  and  facilities  being provided to them by the Government;
- d) the details of residences available in Delhi for accredited journalists and number of residences allotted to them;
- e) whether  the  facilities  like  concessional  railway  ticket  and  also  the  residence facility  in  Delhi  to  accredited  journalists  have been discontinued for last many years and if so, the details thereof and reasons therefor; and
- f) whether the Government proposes to increase the amount of Rupees five lakh being  given  as  financial  assistance  to  accredited  journalists  in  case  of  death and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING; AND MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS (SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR)

(a) PIB  accreditation  is  granted  by  Central  Press  Accreditation Committee (CPAC) as per the guidelines for grant of accreditation to News Media representatives dated 13.09.2012. (b) During the year 2018-20, 9220 applications for PIB accreditation  were  received  of  which  7831  have  been  granted accreditation. 227 applications were rejected for non-fulfillment of the eligibility conditions. (c) During the year 2021, 2514 media persons residing in Delhi and its periphery were granted accreditation by PIB. State Governments have  their  own  norms  and  guidelines  relating  to  accreditation  of media persons. PIB  accredited  journalists  have  access  to  the  Media  Work Room  and  PIB's  library  in  the  National  Media  Centre,  New  Delhi. They  are  invited  to  attend  Press  Conferences/briefings  of  the Government of  India  and  are  preferred  for  issuance  of  passes  for coverage of Independence Day and Republic Day ceremonies.

(d) Directorate of Estate has informed that presently, no General Pool  Residential  Accommodation  (GPRA)  has  been  allotted  to accredited journalists. (e) Accredited journalists have been granted concession by Indian Railways. Ministry of  Railways  has informed that in view of Pandemic  &  Covid Protocol, concession to all categories of passengers  (except  4  categories  of  Divyangjan,  11  categories  of Patients and Students) have been withdrawn from 20.03.2020. (f) The financial assistance granted under the Journalist Welfare Scheme is periodically reviewed by the Government.

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