SC ST Journalist and Media Owners Association Meets Minister Parthasarathi

SC ST Journalist and Media Owners Association Meets Minister Parthasarathi

Vijayawada: With the support of Andhra Pradesh Assembly MLAs Varla Kumar Raja and Shravan Kumar, the SC ST Journalist and Media Owners Association met the Minister for Information and Public Relations (I&PR), Parthasarathi, to discuss the welfare of SC ST journalists.

During the meeting, key issues concerning the challenges faced by SC ST journalists to survive in the media sector, their professional development, and the need for government support were highlighted. 

Shiva Bhagya Rao, President of the SC/ST Journalist and Media Owners Association, emphasized the need for stronger government initiatives to ensure the welfare and growth of SC/ST journalists in the state.  In the representation, he highlighted that journalists belonging to SC/ST castes are lagging behind their contemporaries because they are financially weak. Other requests included:

Every reporter working in small, medium, and large newspapers should be recognized by the state government and given an accreditation card.  Accident and life insurance policies should be provided by the government to all group members. The health card issued to journalists should cover free medical services for four family members and two dependents.  All group members should be provided with plots of land, and house construction should be completed expeditiously.  A 100% fee concession in corporate schools, colleges, and other educational institutions should be provided to all children of group members.  If the government provides any relaxation in education, jobs, and politics, the same should be provided to SC and ST journalists entering the media sector, and enable magazine/channel leaders to grow.

Minister assures full support for SC/ST journalists.

Minister Parthasarathi affirmed that the government will extend full support to the welfare of SC/ST journalists and ensure necessary assistance for their betterment.