Senior journalist Chilkuri Sushil Rao has been honoured with the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ (Jeevana Saphalya Puraskaram). The award was presented to him by former Speaker S Madhusudana Chary at Ravindra Bharathi in Hyderabad on April 20 at the awards presentation ceremony organised by Sealwel Corporation and Shrutilaya Arts Academy, Hyderabad. 

The 55-year-old Sushil Rao has been a journalist for the last 35 years. Since 1988, he has worked for different newspapers, including Deccan Chronicle. He was among the first television journalists when private television channels were launched in India. In 1995-96, he was an anchor for a programme titled ‘Business Time’ presented on Gemini TV.

Sushil Rao is also among the first journalists to write for a news website. He wrote for Rediff-on-the-net news website in 1997.

Sushil Rao is  currently Editor-Special Reports, The Times of India, Hyderabad. He was part of the launch team of The Times of India, Hyderabad edition in the year 2000. 

Former speaker and MLC Madhusudana Chary recalled at the awards function that when he decided to be in public service, he considered journalism as an option but entered politics. He appreciated the efforts of journalists who serve the society.

Sealwel Corporation MD, Bandaru Subba Rao, Shruthilaya Arts chairman Bokka Bhim Reddy, Awards committee chairman Mohammed Rafi, Telangana Police Housing Corporation chairman Koleti Damodar, Aadarsha Foundation founder Kusuma Bhogaraju and others felicitated Chilkuri Sushil Rao at the awards presentation ceremony held under the banner of Department of Language and Culture, Government of India.  

NDTV Executive Editor Uma Sudhir was also presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Journalists and anchors from print and television were also honoured on the occasion.