TELANGANA JOURNALISTS TO HAVE HEALTH CARDS ON PAR WITH GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES

The Advisor to the Government, Media Affairs, Mr.K.V.Ramanachary informed that the State 

Government is committed to issue Health Cards to the Journalists fraternity belonging to Telangana 

State on par with Government employees. 

He was addressing a gathering of Journalists after inaugurating “Free Accident Policy” to the 

Journalists organized by Telangana Union of Working Journalists with the assistance of United India 

Insurance Company, at Telangana State Press Academy, here on Wednesday.   “The Government is bent 

upon for the welfare of Journalists in all aspects”, he said.  This includes issue of Health Cards, Housing, 

Accreditation Cards and Wage Board issues besides other welfare measures.    A decision in this regard 

would be taken up by this month end, he assured. 

He said that the State government is the first government, which has included Journalist welfare 

measures in its manifesto.  Allocation of a whopping Rs.Ten crores in lieu of Journalists welfare in the 

very first budget itself shows its commitment towards Journalists fraternity, he opined.  “How best we 

can utilize the allocated budget needs to be worked out”, he said.   Expressing concern over the job 

hazards in the field of Journalism, he said that extension of Free Accident Policies is a very welcome 

move and expressed the need to extend it to the remaining districts of the State. He also assured of all 

help from the government in this regard.        

The Chairman, Telangana State Press Academy, Mr.Allam Narayana explained the salient 

features of the Free Insurance Policy and informed that  in case of any accidental death, the next of kith 

and kin of the Journalist would get an amount of Rs.five lakhs.  He hailed the office bearers of the Union 

to have come with the unique idea of insuring the lives of Journalists thereby provide some solace to the 

bereaved families.    Initially, the scheme has been floated to the Journalists belonging to Rangareddy 

and Hyderabad district and would soon be extended to all 10 district of Telangana State, he said. 

He thanked the government for allocating Rs.ten crores for the welfare of Journalists and said 

that earlier in United Andhra Pradesh covering 23 districts, a meager Rs. One Crore was only earmarked 

for the purpose.  The Journalists can be rest assured on the issue of Health Cards, as the government is 

under the process of negotiations with the Corporate Hospitals for its own employees.  The same 

benefit would be extended to the Journalists once it is finalized, he said. 

He also exhorted the Journalists fraternity to come forward unitedly towards re-construction of 

Telangana State as was done during achieving separate Telangana statehood. 

Earlier, the Advisor to the Government, Media Affairs, Mr.K.V.Ramanachary gave away forms of 

Insurance policy to the participants. 

TUWJ, Deputy General Secretary, Mr.M.V.Ramana, presided over the function, while 

Mr.Maruthi Sagar, welcomed the gathering.  Joint Secretary, Mr.Nagesh, President, RR District Unit 

Shekhar, President, Hyderabad District Unit, Mr.Yogi and others also spoke.