IT & Industries Minister K T Rama Rao today reiterated that the State government was committed to provide equal rights to photo and video journalists in the State on par with other journalists. “The Government will soon roll out a policy for the welfare of the journalists that will become a model at national level”, he stated.
Talking to mediapersons after inaugurating a photo exhibition of photo journalists along with Press Academy Chairman Allam Narayana and others here, KTR maintained that issues pertaining to house-sites, health cards and others of the journalists will be solved in a friendly manner. Stating that the photo journalists played a key role in the statehood movement, he assured equal rights to them on par with the print and electronic journalists. “Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao was ready to look into all of the issues and we are number one in the country in terms of development. The Government will address the demands of the scribes”, KTR said.
However, he expressed a sort of displeasure at the protests taken up by the some journalist union leaders, who should come for talks instead. “They should not take up protests for existence as we are ready to resolve their issues. We equally respect them and ready to discuss on their problems and demands. KTR further stated that he will speak to Information Commission Navin Mittal and other officials for a speedy solution in this regard. He took exception to some of the newspapers for carrying out vicious campaign with poisonous articles and news items. We are focusing on welfare of the journalists as well as people”, he added.
Later, the minister presented awards to photo journalists. (NSS)