N Chandrababu Naidu's son provides COVID-19 insurance cover to journalists

In what comes as an uplifting development, former Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu's son and Telugu Desam Party National General Secretary Nara Lokesh provided COVID-19 insurance cover for 62 journalists of the Mangalagiri assembly constituency.

Lokesh, a former minister in his father's cabinet, had unsuccessfully contested for the post of an MLA, from the Mangalagiri assembly constituency, in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Lokesh also urged the YSRCP government in the state to include the COVID-19 health insurance cover for journalists along with all the frontline warriors - doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, police, and sanitation workers.

In a statement issued here, Lokesh expressed concern that journalists were falling victims to the virus infections while discharging their duties in the field level along with those engaged in the emergency services. He added that the state government should provide PPE kits to them and also extend Rs. 50 lakh ex gratia to the kin in the event of death.

Over 62 journalists of print and electronic media in Mangalagiri, Tadepalli, and Duggirala areas will benefit from this. The premium has already been paid while the insurance certificates would soon be handed over. This decision was taken to provide support to the families of journalists if any untoward incident happens.

Under the cover extended to Mangalagiri journalists, the nominee would receive Rs. 10 lakh in case of COVID-19-related or natural death and Rs. 20 lakh in case of an accidental fatality.