Hyderabad: Telangana Legislative Council Chairman Gutta Sukender Reddy said the Telangana Media Academy’s initiative to support families of deceased journalists reflected the government’s strong commitment to journalists’ welfare.
He participated in a cheque distribution programme for families of deceased journalists and the release of monographs published by the Telangana Media Academy. Along with him, Government Adviser K. Kesava Rao attended the event held at the Telangana Media Academy auditorium in Nampally.
Speaking on the occasion, Gutta Sukender Reddy said the untimely death of journalists working at the grassroots level was painful. Therefore, he said the State government extended financial assistance of ₹1 lakh from the journalists’ welfare fund to each affected family.
In addition, he said the government provided a pension facility for five years. As a result, these welfare measures would help families overcome financial hardship.
He further said the publication of monographs highlighting the lives and contributions of senior journalists would inspire future generations. At the same time, he noted that despite rapid changes in electronic media, he personally preferred reading newspapers.
Monographs released on senior journalists
Meanwhile, Government Adviser K. Kesava Rao said documenting the lives of eminent personalities in monograph form required sustained effort. Accordingly, he thanked all those involved in bringing the publications to print.
He said journalists not only reported news but also uncovered the truth behind events. Hence, he observed that journalists played a vital role in guiding future generations.
However, Kesava Rao said no single authority could control social media. Instead, he urged journalists to collectively discuss the issue and organise workshops to bring meaningful change.
Further, Telangana Media Academy Chairman K. Srinivas Reddy said the Academy distributed ₹1 lakh each to the families of 18 deceased journalists. Additionally, the Academy provided ₹50,000 as financial assistance to a journalist injured in an accident.
He said the Academy released 10 monographs on eminent journalists. These included Abid Ali Khan, D. Sitaram, Bethanabhotla Nageswara Rao, Potthuri Venkateswara Rao, M.S. Acharya, A.B.K. Prasad, G.S. Varadachari, C. Raghavachari, V. Hanumantha Rao and Adiraju Venkateswara Rao.
Finally, the programme was attended by Telangana Media Academy Secretary Nagulapalli Venkateswara Rao, senior journalists and others.