Distributing Health Cards to 11 journalists as a token on Friday, IT Minister K Tarakarama Rao said the TRS government, which was committed to their welfare, will also offer the same to all journalists across the State.
The minister also launched an official website www.jhs.telangana.gov.in for issuing the same at a program at Secretariat here. Transport Minister P Mahender Reddy, Press Academy Chairman Allam Narayana, Govt Advisor K V Ramana Chary, MP B Suman, legislator B Goverdhan Reddy, Information Commissioner Navin Mittal, Director Subhash, officials and a sizeable number of journalists attended the program.
Speaking on the occasion, KTR said the scribes can download online their health cards by entering details followed by username and password that come to their mobile numbers or can be collected from the Information & Public Relations department. Though issuance of health cards was delayed for various reasons, the TRS government was committed for the welfare of scribes and advocates, who played a key role in Telangana Statehood movement, he asserted.
Stating that the TRS government would keep all promises, KTR asked the scribes to enroll their names for Rs 5 lakh insurance scheme. Every accredited journalist will get the health card and will be allowed to travel in AC buses of the RTC. He praised the scribes as over-enthusiastic and energetic compared to other States. “Recently I met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and was taken by surprise when only two scribes attended his press meet. When I asked him, Akhilesh said media persons do attend in less number and there was no hype, he said, adding that Telangana journalists are very active and efficient.”
Earlier, Allam Narayana urged the government to replicate the housing facility offered by Chief Minster K Chandrasekhar Rao to scribes in Warangal, to Hyderabad journalists and others in the State. KCR has already taken a decision to provide two bedroom houses for the scribes and ministers will help expedite the process, KTR said, adding all the journalists can avail the health cards on cashless and limitless basis which was not the case in Andhra Pradesh State, he said.(NSS)