Telangana Revenue, Housing and Information & Public Relations Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy today announced that Indiramma houses would be provided to all eligible journalists.
He said that priority would be given to economically disadvantaged journalists in rural areas and the families of journalists who lost their lives while performing their duties.
The minister was speaking after presenting cheques to the family members of journalists who had passed away in the line of duty or were unable to continue their profession due to severe illness or accidents, at an event held at the Press Academy office in Nampally.
Reddy also announced that families of 597 deceased journalists would receive a one-time payment of Rs 1 lakh each, along with a monthly pension of Rs 3,000 each for five years, and children from Classes 1 to 10 in these families would receive Rs 1,000 per month each for tuition fees, applicable for up to two children. So far, financial assistance totaling Rs 8.98 crore had been extended to these families, he said.
"The Academy itself also plans to utilise the Rs 42 crore allocated by the State government by placing it in a fixed deposit. The interest generated will be used for the welfare of journalists. So far, Rs 22 crore has already been disbursed from the interest accrued," he added.
Reddy also said that a dedicated action plan was being developed to support journalists working at the mandal and constituency levels in the districts.
He also said that the Press Academy building, which had reportedly been left incomplete by the previous BRS government, would undergo minor repairs and was scheduled to be completed and inaugurated by the end of this month.