HAVERI: Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa announced that the state government will confer ‘Patrikodayam Prashasti’ (media award) in the name of noted journalist Mohare Hanumantrao on the lines of TSR Award, from this year onwards.
Inaugurating the new hitech Vartha Bhavan and unveiling the copper statue of former CM JH Patel on Monday, he said the government has decided to upgrade all district information offices.
Presently, the state has 15 DIOs and 10 are running in rented buildings.
`25 lakh to Patrika Bhavan
Yeddyurappa said the government has already announced the new media policy. We have increased the journalists pension to `2,000 from `1,000. Our government has sanctioned two Patrika Bhavans to Working Journalists Unions in the district, including one in Haveri, at a cost of `25 lakh each.
In places where Patrika Bhavans already exist, the government is ready to release `12 lakh to provide basic infrastructure, the chief minister said.