Scribes protest for welfare measures

Sangareddy: Demanding immediate measures to be taken by the State government for the welfare of journalists, Telangana Union of Working Journalists (TUWJ), Medak district held a hunger strike at the District Collectorate on Tuesday.

The journalists demanded that health cards and accreditations be issued to all eligible journalists. They also sought 10 per cent of double-bedroom houses in every circle to be allotted to journalists and land to be given with financial assistance to build houses for those who don’t fall in that 10 per cent category. The journalists also demanded the government to issue a GO offering free education to the children of journalists to study in private schools.

They further threatened to launch a massive protest at the District Collectorate on December 28, if their demands were not met by then. Addressing the gathering of journalists from various media houses, district president of TUWJ K Rangachary said the situation was so grave that more than 100 journalists from across Telangana have died due to various illnesses as they couldn’t afford timely treatment. He urged the State government to take immediate steps for the welfare of journalists without further delay. He made it clear that the intent was not to malign the government, but only to remind the government of the promises made in its election manifesto.