Security tightened at secretariat press rooms

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Chennai: Gaining entry into the modernised press room at the secretariat or covering chief minister’s functions is no longer an easy task for unauthorised persons and ‘fake’ journalists, according to sources. Informed sources in the secretariat told Deccan Chronicle that it had been proposed to restrict entry of unauthorised persons into the pressroom.
“For the first time, the accreditation cards issued to journalists, this year, have been designed with bar codes on its rear.
This will enable only the card holders to enter into the press room,” an official said and added that the decision to include barcodes in the accreditation cards had been taken after repeated complaints from public and journalists about a few unauthorised persons entering the press room.
However, journalists from recognised media houses without accreditation cards have expressed their concern about the proposed new system.
 The official added that the necessary provisions would be made to scan the barcode at the entrance of the press room.
This apart, the information department officials are also contemplating to make use of this bar code facility to restrict entries to the venues of the functions attended by VIPs under the guise of scribes. “An hand-held bar code scanner equipment will be used in such circumstances,” sources added.
As much as 225 journalists were issued accreditation cards this year.