AP CM assures all help to Press Academy

Hyderabad, Aug 3 (UNI) The Andhra Pradesh government would provide all necessary help to the AP Press Academy to improve the professional skills and values of journalists, Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy said today.

Inaugurating the first meeting of the fifth Governing Council of the Academy here, he said there would not be any problem regarding budget for the academy in conducting training classes and international seminars.

The Academy should conduct more training classes for journalists, especially those in rural areas, to protect journalistic values, that were beneficial to the society.

The Chief Minister said he would consider the request of former Press Academy Chairman P Venkateswara Rao to extend the 'Aarogyasri Health Insurance Scheme' to retired journalists and directed the State Information and Public Relations Commissioner C Parthasarathi to look into the procedures in this regard.

Dr Reddy also agreed to increase the Jounalists Welfare Fund from the present Rs 50 lakh to Rs one crore on the request of another former Academy Chairman K Srinivas Reddy.

State Information and Public Relations Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, speaking on the occasion, said some newspaper organisations had been appointing journalists in villages and mandal areas without verifying their educational qualification and basic knowledge in journalism.

Earlier, the Chief Minister released 'Swaatantrya Poratam -Journalist Yodhulu - Jailu Sikhalu,' a book by veteran Journalist C V Rajagopala Rao.

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