Chief Minister of Puducherry N Rangasamy on Sunday said he was confident that the plea of the Union Territory for Statehood would be conceded by the Centre.
Addressing the inauguration of the Puducherry Print and Television Journalists Association by Lieutenant Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, the Chief Minister said, "We have been making a plea for full statehood to Puducherry. I am confident that the Centre will concede."
He said the territorial government was implementing several schemes for the betterment of the journalists.
"We will also consider the pleas presented earlier at the function on behalf of the association of journalists," he said.
Mr Rangasamy asked mediapersons to report correct and confirmed information and said the government would always take steps to protect them. "The media's role during the current drive against pandemic is laudable," he said.
Later, he honoured senior journalists by presenting them mementos.
Speaking on the occasion, Ms Soundararajan said Puducherry was the first in the country to declare mediapersons as frontline workers.
"We have shown the way to the rest of the country and have also vaccinated mediapersons to protect them against COVID-19," she said placing on record the pro-active role the press was playing here in combating the pandemic.
She honoured Health Department officials for their service in combating coronavirus.
Speaker of the Assembly R Selvam and PWD Minister K Lakshminarayanan also spoke.
Member of Rajya Sabha from Puducherry S Selvaganapthy, legislators KSP Ramesh, AKD Arumugham and Richards, Secretary to Information E Vallavan and Health Secretary T Arun were also present.
President of the journalists association RK Raja presented a memorandum to Chief Minister containing presspersons' demands.
Heavy Rains Predicted In Coastal Districts Of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry On December 11 In Big Breakthrough, Centre Agrees To Give 95% Quota To Locals In Ladakh Gazetted Officers' Posts Cyclone Fengal: Puducherry Declares Holiday For Schools And Colleges Today Naval Personnel Among 13 Killed As Navy Boat Collides With Ferry Near Mumbai World Leaders On Speed-Dial: How Elon Musk Is Causing Geopolitical Tremors Video: Passengers Panic, Scream For Help As Ferry Sinks Off Mumbai Coast Fraudster Arrested In Rajasthan In Rs 56 Lakh Cyber Scam Case 48-Year-Old Indian-origin Man Jailed For Life In UK For Mother's Murder "Alvida Yatra": Tejashwi Yadav's Jibe Ahead Of Nitish Kumar's Pragati Yatra Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.