New Delhi, Oct.2: Deccan Herald Principal Correspondent Dr. Ronald Anil Fernandes was presented the prestigious Sarojini Naidu award 2009, a national award for best reporting on Women and Panchayati Raj in English category by Union Minister of State for External Affairs Dr Shashi Tharoor, at India Habitat Centre in New Delhi today.Incidentally, Dr Fernandes is the first South Indian to win this award in English category which comprises a sum of Rs 2 lakh in cash and a citation.
The other awardees included Mr Amarpal Singh Verma of Rajasthan Patrika from Rajasthan (Hindi) and Ms G Meenakshi of Dinamani from Tamilnadu (other Indian languages – Tamil). Besides, Mr Vijay Chormare of Prahar from Maharashtra was given a special jury citation (Marathi).
The jury included Dr George Mathew (Chair, The Sarojini Naidu prize jury and Director, Institute of Social Sciences), Ms Urvashi Butalia (Co-founder, Kali for Women and Director, Zubaan), Mr Maalan Narayanan (Political Analyst and Media consultant), Mr Alok Mehta (Chief Editor, Nai Dunia) and Prof Niraja Gopal Jayal (Chairperson, Centre for Study of Law and Governance, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi).
The award winning story on Koila Gram Panchayat in Puttur taluk was published in City Herald (a supplement of Deccan Herald) on July 4, 2009.
Speaking on the occasion, Hunger Project Country Director Rita Sarin said that the organization received a total of 928 articles from all over India.
The chief guest on the occasion, Union Minister of State for External Affairs Dr Shashi Tharoor while lauding the journalists for winning the prestigious award, said that there is a bright future for media in India unlike the foreign countries where newspapers and magazines are being closed down.
Regretting the recent trend of ‘herd instinct’ of newspapers and TV channels, he called upon media persons to publish more and more stories which ‘the public need to know’ rather than ‘what the public want’
Wellknown social activist and former IAS officer Aruna Roy and Doordarshan Director General Aruna Sharma also spoke on how the RTI Act and NREGA has brought a ray of hope among rural women folk.
Incidentally, the year 2009 also marks the 50th anniversary of Panchayati Raj.
