Article Today, New Delhi:
The Deccan Journalists Housing Society (DJHS) has appealed to Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy to fulfil the promise of allotting house sites to journalists in Hyderabad. A delegation led by DJHS president Bolloju Ravi, director Pratap Reddy, and members Naveen Dummaji and Satish Yadav
met the Chief Minister at his residence in New Delhi on Thursday. They reminded him of his earlier assurance to provide plots in “Future City” and urged immediate action. The delegation also informed him about a recent decision by the Andhra Pradesh government in favour of journalists.
Promise in Congress Manifesto
Before the Assembly elections, the Congress party had included the promise of house sites for journalists in its manifesto. The commitment followed a formal request from the DJHS when Mr. Reddy was party president. After becoming Chief Minister, he publicly announced that plots would be allotted in Future City for journalists.
Supreme Court Ruling Poses Hurdle
The plan suffered a setback after the Supreme Court delivered its verdict on 38 acres of land in Pet Basheerabad, earlier allotted to the Jawaharlal Nehru Journalists’ Mutual Aided Cooperative Housing Society. The ruling effectively halted allotments, shattering the long-standing dream of many journalists. The DJHS maintains that most journalists come from economically weaker sections, and therefore deserve access to housing schemes like other underprivileged groups.
Hope on Future City
Mr. Reddy had earlier promised that he would sign the file for the journalists’ housing society “in one minute.” However, the Supreme Court verdict has delayed the process. The DJHS leaders urged the Chief Minister to explore legal options to review the judgment. They expressed hope that his positive intervention could revive the Future City project for journalists.
