Chalo Vijayawada Journalists Rally Highlights Key Welfare Demands of Media Professionals
Chalo Vijayawada Journalists Rally Sees Massive Participation from Journalists Across Andhra Pradesh
Vijayawada: The Chalo Vijayawada Journalists Rally held in Vijayawada on Wednesday witnessed massive participation from journalists across Andhra Pradesh. State Information and Public Relations Minister K. Parthasarathi attended the programme as the chief guest and assured that the government would address the concerns raised by journalists’ associations.
The Chalo Vijayawada Journalists Rally was organized jointly by the Andhra Pradesh Working Journalists Federation (APWJF) and the Andhra Pradesh Broadcast Journalists Association (APBJA) to highlight several issues faced by journalists in the state. Thousands of journalists from different districts gathered in Vijayawada and participated in a large rally from Raghavaiah Park Centre on Mahatma Gandhi Road to Tummalapalli Kalakshetram.
Addressing the gathering after the Chalo Vijayawada Journalists Rally, Minister Parthasarathi said the government maintains a positive approach towards journalists and regularly discusses the issues brought forward by media representatives. He said many concerns raised by journalists’ unions are being reviewed by the government and will also be brought to the attention of the Chief Minister for appropriate action.
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The minister assured participants of the Chalo Vijayawada Journalists Rally that the government would make every effort to resolve their problems. He stated that journalists play a vital role in democracy and their welfare should be protected. “Journalists will neither be ignored nor neglected,” he said, emphasizing that the government values the role of the media in society.
Responding to demands raised during the Chalo Vijayawada Journalists Rally, the minister said the government would ensure that the health insurance scheme for journalists continues without interruption. He also responded positively to the request for conducting free medical check-ups for journalists twice a year. According to him, discussions would be held with the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and major hospitals so that journalists could benefit from regular health check-ups.
The minister further announced that the government would work towards strengthening the Journalists Welfare Fund to provide better support to media professionals and their families. As a gesture of support, he personally pledged ₹5 lakh towards the welfare fund. This announcement was welcomed by participants of the Chalo Vijayawada Journalists Rally, who said such support would help improve welfare measures for journalists.
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Another important issue raised during the Chalo Vijayawada Journalists Rally was the demand for house sites and housing schemes for journalists. Responding to this request, Minister Parthasarathi said the government would positively examine the possibility of including journalists in existing housing schemes so that they could benefit from the programme.
The minister also condemned attacks on journalists and said the government would not tolerate such incidents. He assured that strict action would be taken against those responsible for attacks on media persons. At the same time, he warned that the spread of fake news through social media and YouTube platforms has created challenges for genuine journalism. He said false or misleading reports would not be tolerated as they damage the credibility of the media.
Speaking on the occasion, Federation General Secretary G. Anjaneyulu highlighted the national slogan “Save Journalism… Protect Journalists.” He explained that the federation currently has more than 7,000 members across the state and described the difficulties faced by journalists in their professional lives. He stressed the need to establish a Media Commission to study the working conditions and welfare needs of journalists.
Anjaneyulu also expressed concern that journalists are increasingly facing threats and attacks. In the past, he said, journalists sometimes faced problems from political groups or anti-social elements, but now there are instances where officials themselves file cases or issue notices against journalists. Such developments, he said, are affecting the freedom of the press and must be addressed seriously.
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Federation leaders who participated in the Chalo Vijayawada Journalists Rally also requested the government to continue the financial assistance scheme that provides ₹3,000 per month for three years to the families of deceased journalists. They also urged the state government to establish at least one old-age home dedicated to journalists, which would provide support to senior media professionals in their later years.
In his presidential address, Federation State President S. Venkata Rao pointed out that 18 states in India currently provide pensions to retired journalists. He requested the Andhra Pradesh government to introduce a similar pension scheme in the state. According to him, the number of retired journalists in Andhra Pradesh is relatively small, and providing pension support would serve as an important social security measure.
Earlier, Federation NTR District Secretary M.B. Nathan delivered the welcome address and explained that journalists in the state are currently facing 14 major issues related to welfare, safety, and professional support. NTR District President Kalimi Sri invited leaders to the stage during the meeting.
Several leaders and representatives of journalist organizations, including Kondayya, Amarayya, M. Srinivasa Rao, Manjari, Shantisri, and Srinubabu, participated in the programme along with district presidents and secretaries from different associations. A memorandum detailing the demands raised during the Chalo Vijayawada Journalists Rally was submitted to Minister Parthasarathi for further action.
The programme also included cultural performances that added colour to the event. Classical dance performances were presented by the students of Kala Ratna dance guru Bhagavatula Soumya, who was later honoured by the minister. Progressive songs performed by Prajanatya Mandali singers Anil, Kavi, and Appanna entertained the gathering.
The Chalo Vijayawada Journalists Rally witnessed an unprecedented turnout of journalists from all districts of the state. Participants travelled to Vijayawada by buses, trains, and private vehicles. Although the rally was scheduled to begin at 11:00 AM, journalists started arriving at the venue as early as 10:00 AM, and the crowd continued to grow until around 11:30 AM.
During the rally, journalists raised slogans demanding house sites, pension benefits, establishment of a media commission, a governing council for the Media Academy, and welfare schemes for journalists. Mahatma Gandhi Road echoed with calls for unity among journalists and protection of journalism.
Police made tight security arrangements as the Chalo Vijayawada Journalists Rally drew a huge crowd. Authorities had to deploy rope parties to manage the gathering and regulate traffic. Observers noted that such a massive rally of journalists had not been witnessed in recent years in Vijayawada.
The Chalo Vijayawada Journalists Rally concluded with a strong message emphasizing the need to protect journalism, improve journalists’ welfare, and ensure that the voice of the media continues to play an important role in strengthening democracy.
