Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao today celebrated his 63rd birthday by announcing a slew of welfare measures for the journalist community in the state. First of its kind in the country, he announced assistance of Rs 3 lakh towards marriage of girl children of journalists.

Other measures include 2BHK houses for journalists in districts, quota for their children in residential schools, scholarships for higher studies abroad, Rs 3,000 monthly pension to families of deceased journalists for five years and Rs 2,000 for education of two children per family.

The announcement was made during the first Janahitha programme, launched today with journalist families. He also distributed cheques of Rs `lakh each to families of 69 deceased journalists and said the State government allocated Rs 10 crore each in the past two budgets since 2014. In the coming State Budget, he promised to allocate Rs 30 crore in addition to the annual allocation of Rs 10 crore.

He also handed over a cheque of Rs 10 lakh to the family of senior journalist Harikrishna Reddy who is to undergo heart transplant and Rs 4 lakh to the family of sports journalist Srinivasulu who died recently. Chief Minister asserted that it was his responsibility to ensure the welfare of the 20,000-odd journalists in the State

The Chief Minister also promised that the government will provide house sites and health cards to journalists. “Journalists’ families were unsure of their future in the event of death till recently, but the State government is committed to ensure that they lead a decent life,” he said, adding that media organisations should ensure regular contributions for provident fund and ESI.

Rao said that the government is taking all steps to ensure journalists’ welfare by making PF, ESI and insurance contribution by employers compulsory in the state. He also added that it is the duty of the society to support journalists’ families who die in their prime either due to ill health or occupational hazards just like in the case of soldiers.