Outlook's Journalist Shahina K.K. gets CPJ International Press Freedom Award for 2023
New Delhi: Outlook magazine's senior editor, Shahina K.K., has been announced as one of the winners of the prestigious Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) International Press Freedom Award for 2023. The award recognizes Shahina's courageous journalism and her relentless efforts to shed light on critical issues such as gender, human rights, and marginalized communities in India. She will be among four journalists from different countries to receive this honor. The awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on November 16, 2023, in New York City.
Describing Shahina's exceptional career, the CPJ commended her extensive work in both print and broadcast media, where she fearlessly reported on the challenges faced by oppressed communities and highlighted their struggles for justice. Notably, Shahina was among the first journalists in India to face charges under a draconian anti-terror law that has been heavily used against journalists for more than a decade. Despite awaiting trial for a case initiated in 2010, when local government officials sought to criminalize her reporting on a controversial police investigation, Shahina continues to pursue her journalistic endeavors. As of June 2023, she is out on bail awaiting trial, which, if convicted, could result in a maximum prison sentence of three years and a fine. Throughout her career, Shahina, who is a Muslim, has also faced harassment from right-wing groups in India aiming to suppress her reporting on religious minorities and vulnerable caste groups.
Shahina's contributions to Outlook magazine have covered a wide range of subjects, including gender equality, human rights, and the plight of marginalized communities. Her noteworthy article titled "Gender Journey" examined a feminist perspective on the Uniform Civil Code and its historical engagement with the idea of UCC. Additionally, her piece titled "Taking the Bull by Its Horns" delved into the emergence of the queer community in the realm of sports, highlighting their resilience in the face of structural discrimination.
Expressing her gratitude for the recognition, Shahina reflected on a particular investigative story she pursued in 2010 for Tehelka, where she exposed a fabricated charge sheet against Abdul Nasar Madani, a Malayali Muslim cleric accused in the 2008 Bangalore bomb blast case. Shahina's interviews with three witnesses revealed that their statements had been manipulated and falsified. However, upon returning to Kerala, she discovered an FIR had been filed against her, accusing her of intimidating the witnesses. The legal proceedings against her have persisted for over a decade. In her acceptance speech, Shahina dedicated the award to all journalists who face violence, threats, and false charges in the line of duty.
In addition to Shahina K.K., three other remarkable individuals were recognized with the CPJ International Press Freedom Award for 2023. These include Nika Gvamaria from Georgia, the founder of Georgian broadcaster Mtavari Arkhi; Maria Teresa Montaño from Mexico, the founder and editor of The Observer; and Ferdinand Ayité from Togo, the director of investigative outlet L'Alternative.
Furthermore, the CPJ honored Alberto Ibargüen, the outgoing president of the Knight Foundation, with the Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award for 2023. This award acknowledges Ibargüen's extraordinary and sustained contributions to the cause of press freedom.
Established in 1991, the Committee to Protect Journalists is an independent, non-governmental organization based in New York City. It focuses on recognizing individuals who have displayed exceptional courage in their journalism, particularly in countries where press freedom violations are severe. The CPJ International Press Freedom Awards are presented annually to honor journalists and publications that have demonstrated remarkable commitment to defending press freedom despite facing attacks, threats, or imprisonment.
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Consumer Affairs Minister Joshi slams air purifier firms for false claims ahead of pollution season
New Delhi, Oct 14: Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Monday criticised air purifier manufacturers for making false claims about their products, and called for increased consumer awareness ahead of winter when air pollution worsens in Delhi due to crop stubble burning in neighbouring states.
Addressing an event commemorating World Standards Day, Joshi expressed concern over misleading marketing tactics adopted by some air purifier companies.
"Discussion on air pollution has begun. Looking at Air Quality Index (AQI) on mobiles, people out of fear, go and buy air purifiers. Air purifiers make such false claims. ...We see air purifiers and so much is written but nothing is there in it. There is just a fan in it, yet claims are still made," the minister stated.
Joshi called for a collaborative approach involving the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the consumer affairs ministry and consumers to address the issue.
While praising the BIS for their "exceptionally wonderful job" in recent years, the minister emphasized that more needs to be done.
"I do not blame BIS for this. BIS in the last few years has done an exceptionally wonderful job. But both BIS and the consumer affairs ministry and consumers together need to create awareness. It is important, and I strongly feel (this way)," the minister said stressing the collective responsibility in combating misleading product claims.
He emphasized the government's commitment to ensuring every Indian has access to safe, reliable, and high-quality products and services.
These comments come as concerns grow about air quality in major Indian cities and expansion of the air purifier market.
Joshi also announced plans to make BIS standards mandatory for public procurement on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal. "BIS standards are partially implemented on GeM. We'll try to make it mandatory."
The minister highlighted the government's focus on quality standards, noting that Cabinet proposals now include global standard notes.
"These days, the tradition has started in the Union Cabinet. Wherever a bill to be introduced in Parliament comes before the Cabinet, the global standard note comes with it. That has been made mandatory for the Cabinet," he said.
This note mentions which countries perform best in the particular field, rules and how India can achieve it. "So, we have to match every Cabinet note with the global standards. This helps our government to make decisions to set high standards whether it is quality infrastructure or urban metro trains."
Implementation of standards at national level has been given a top priority by the government and is actively bringing more products under mandatory quality controls, he said.
He said that over 22,300 standards are currently in force, with 94 per cent harmonized with international standards. The number of Quality Control Orders has risen from 14 (covering 106 products) in 2014 to 174 (covering 732 products) now.
Also, 94 per cent of Indian Standards are harmonised with International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
Joshi stressed the interdependence of consumers and producers in fostering a quality ecosystem. He urged the BIS to take on more leadership roles in international standardization and fast-track the development of new standards.
World Standards Day, observed annually on October 14, aims to raise awareness about standards and their role in achieving Sustainable Development Goals.
