Every sector in society anticipates government decisions related to land allocations for its members.
IAS officers, IPS officers, MLA and magistrates often receive land allocations at some point. Journalists also fall into this category, having been granted lands by previous governments.
However, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and KCR stand apart in this regard, showing a complete disregard for the journalist community.
A recent announcement by Jagan's government in Andhra Pradesh regarding land allocation for journalists was initially well-received. However, the enthusiasm quickly waned as the details of the Government Order released.
The eligibility criteria for obtaining the land are notably stringent compared to previous instances.
For instance, journalists or their spouses with property in their name are disqualified from the scheme, a restriction not imposed on other mentioned professionals and their respective groups.
Another notable condition requires journalists to bear 40% of the plot's cost, with the remaining 60% covered by the government.
The GO fails to specify whether the government will consider the 'government rate' or the 'market rate.' This is a stark contrast to the 2%-4% contribution by the journalist members seen in previous governments.
These stringent conditions render a significant majority of working journalists ineligible for the scheme. In essence, this GO appears to be a setback for the journalist community, a development that is unwelcome during this season.
