Three TNM journalists win Ramnath Goenka awards
Udupi’s Prajwal Bhat among winners
The prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards for the year 2022 saw The News Minute's reporters Azeefa Fathima, Balakrishnan Ganesan, and Prajwal Bhat clinching top honors in two distinguished categories. Their exceptional journalistic endeavors were recognized at the awards ceremony held in New Delhi on Tuesday, March 19.
Azeefa, Balakrishnan, and Prajwal were lauded in the Civic Journalism category for their comprehensive five-part series shedding light on the pervasive issue of manual scavenging prevalent in India. Their in-depth investigation delved into the deplorable conditions faced by manual scavengers across five southern states, namely Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Karnataka.
The series critically examined the role of district administrations in tackling this grave social problem, scrutinizing measures implemented to eradicate the practice. Supported by data obtained through the Right to Information Act, the reports assessed the effectiveness of governmental interventions, including expenditure on machinery and equipment to minimize human intervention in sanitation work, identification and rehabilitation of former manual scavengers, and provision of compensation to the families of victims.
In addition to their commendable work in civic journalism, Prajwal Bhat, who hails from Udupi, received individual recognition in the Political Reporting category for his remarkable series on the 2022 hijab agitations in Karnataka. Prajwal's reporting provided comprehensive coverage of the controversy that erupted in a government college in Udupi district. He documented the sequence of events, including detailed interviews with students at the heart of the protests and investigations into the involvement of various groups. Prajwal's series not only reported on the immediate protests but also analyzed the broader implications of the controversy on education and communal harmony in the region.
Prajwal's dedication to investigative journalism was underscored by his four-month stint in Udupi for sustained reportage on the hijab controversy, where he uncovered the orchestrated nature of the protests and their impact on Muslim women's education. His series delved into the challenges faced by Muslim families and the threat posed to the educational progress of Muslim women in the region, highlighting the repercussions of the hijab controversy on enrollment patterns in pre-university colleges.
The award ceremony, attended by eminent personalities from the media fraternity, featured Nitin Gadkari, Minister for Road Transport & Highways, as the chief guest.
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Davangere: Two policemen injured in stone pelting during Ganesha procession
Davangere: Reports state that two groups engaged in stone pelting at each other during Ganesha idol immersion ceremony in Davangere on Thursday. Two police personnel were injured in the incident.
Few days ago, two groups of youth engaged in verbal altercation regarding raising of a flag for Eid Milad celebration. On account of the clashes, police had heightened security for the Ganesha procession. Despite the additional security, stones were pelted at the procession, sources stated. Inspector Gururaj and constable Raghavendra were injured in the incident. The procession continued after the police brought the situation to control. However, the stone pelting resumed once again as the procession surged forwards.
Security has been tightened up in the area and all shops have been closed down by the police. The two police personnel, who were injured in the stone pelting, are undergoing treatment at a hospital.
