CM committed to scribes’ welfare: Ganta

Instructs DEO to ensure fee concession for children of journalists in private schools

Chittoor: HRD Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao said that Chief Minister N Chandrababu is committed to the welfare of scribes in the State. Speaking to the media here on Saturday, the Minister said that the State government had distributed health cards to accredited journalists as per the promise made by the Chief Minister. He added the government has been extending welfare schemes to scribes.

Earlier, a delegation led by Chittoor Press Club president Ramesh Babu and secretary Kaleswara Reddy have met the Minister and submitted a memorandum to him. They made an appeal to Minister to provide fee concession for the children of scribes in private schools. The Minister admitted that several journalists were deprived of reasonable wages by the managements of print and electronic media. Ganta said that journalists seeking fee concession to their children in private schools is justifiable. “The TDP government is in favour of implementing reservations in private institutions too,” he added.

When similar kind of representations were received in Krishna and West Godavari districts from journalists’ unions, the Minister said that instructions were given to the DEOs to exercise their powers and ensure fee concession to the children of scribes in private schools.

Ganta instructed DEO K Nageswara Rao to take necessary steps for ensuring fee concession to the children of journalists in private schools with immediate effect. He asked the journalists to give wide publicity to social welfare schemes for the benefit of people. He praised the performance of Education department in Chief Minister’s native district. Speaking to The Hans India, Ramesh Babu said that several scribes are finding it difficult to join their children in private schools due to high fees. He made an appeal to school managements to be liberal towards children of journalists and provide 50 per cent fee concession.

The journalists like Sanjeeva Reddy, Chandra, Vasanth, Siva, Gajapathi, Jayakar, Prakash, Ashok, Murali, and others were present.