Chennai, March 28th 2008: Population First, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and The Catalyst Trust, Chennai, today announced the winners of the first ever UNFPA–Laadli Media Awards for gender sensitivity for the Southern Region. The winners were felicitated at a simple function held at the Music Academy in Chennai on Friday.

Ammu Joseph, independent journalist, receiving special award for "consistent engagement with gender issues"

Eighteen winners were chosen in different categories from the five southern states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Puducherry. Among them were the TV9 (Telegu) daily show, Naveena, which was declared the winner of the electronic category for its positive portrayals of modern women, dealing with taboo subjects, Makkal TV (Tamil) and Surya TV (Malayalam).

The awards for reporting in the print media went to Priyamvada, earlier with The New Indian Express, now with News X for English, and V. Udaya Lakshmi of Prajasakti Daily for Telugu. Deepa Ramakrishnan, a freelance writer contributing to Deccan Chronicle (English), won the award for best feature. CG Manjula an assistant editor with the Sudha Weekly (Kannada) won the award for her best column on gender issues.

In addition to the above, special jury-nominated awards were given to Ammu Joseph for “her consistent engagement with gender issues” in the English press, K.R. Meera for “her sustained reporting on the exploitation of women” in the Malayalam press, and V Sriram for his English book, 'The Devdasi and The Saint – the Life and Times of Bangalore Nagarathnamma.’

Jury-nominated awards were also given to Prasanna Ramaswamy for her English play, 'Sruti Smriti Kriti,' on Bangalore Nagarathnamma, and to Mangai (Padma), for her consistent and active contribution to gender issues in Tamil theatre, particularly street theatre.

C.G. Manjula, Assistant Editor, Sudha, receiving award for best column.

The awardees were judged by an eminent panel of judges from various creative fields. Eminent writer Ms Sivasankari, acclaimed documentary film maker Dr. S. Krishnaswamy, renowned dancer Dr. Padma Subramanyam and well-known journalist Sadanand Menon were among the jury members.

The awardees were honoured by the Hon. Minister for Social Welfare, Dr. TMT Poongodai. The guests of honour were Prof. MS Swaminathan, Mr. David Hopper (Consul General, USA) and Mr. Roland Friedrich Herrmann (Consul General, Germany).

For the first time this programme linked together culture and education to highlight the issue of gender sensitivity. A special ballet, “ AMBA,” was composed for this function by the renowned Kalakshetra Institute. The Laadli Girl Child campaign has evoked tremendous response from support groups. Well-known artists like Khusboo and Lola Kutty a.k.a Anu Menon have come forward to support the movement as goodwill ambassadors.. To cement this further, cultural ambassadors dancers Latha and Gita, Anitha Rathnam, Swapnasundari and Bharati Shivaji have committed themselves to taking the message to the masses through their performances across the world.

About Population First
Population First is an NGO focusing on population and health issues facing the country, looking at these from the perspective of women’s rights and social development. The trust works towards India’s goal of a balanced, planned and stable population. The key objectives are to help reduce gender imbalances in the population.

The trust was registered in 2002 as a public trust under the Bombay Public Trusts Act, 1950. It is guided by an eminent group of Trustees and Advisory Council members.

Some award-winners with organisers from Population First and UNFPA at the Music Academy, Chennai, before the award ceremony on 28 March 2008

The Catalyst Trust was founded by five friends (Mr. R. Desikan, consumer Activist, Dr. S. Krishnaswamy, documentary film maker, Mr. B S Raghavan, former Chief Secretary of Assam, Mr. N L Rajah, advocate and social activist and Mr. Ravindran, former Director General of Police, Tamilnadu). The Trust was inaugurated by Shri I K Gujral in 1997, presided over by Shri C. Subramaniam.

The Catalyst Trust conducts “Voters Awareness Campaigns” through the press, television, and other media during every State and Central election. With the cooperation of a German Foundation, it has built 100 houses for tsunami-affected families near ECR, and donated about 150 motor boats to fishermen. It has established 200 CITIZENS’ CENTRES in chosen areas all over Tamilnadu (with the cooperation of the Ford Foundation), which function as information and guidance centres, helping citizens in many respects – with special reference to “Right to Information.”

Nawab Md Abdul Ali, Prince of Arcot is the Chief Patron of the Catalyst Trust; Mr. R. Desikan, Chairman; Dr. S. Krishnaswamy, Managing Trustee; and Mr. N L Rajah, Secretary.

About UNFPA
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), India works towards improving the health and well-being of the Indian population. It uses population data and research as the basis for its initiatives. The India programme is the UNFPA’s largest and it works closely with policy makers, governmental institutions, NGOs and the community at large. UNFPA strives to empower citizens, particularly women, to make informed choices on reproductive health, including maternal health.

For further information please contact:

Devdatta Mulchandani Clea PR- 94440 76909
devdatta@cleapublicrelations.com

Smita Mathew Clea PR- 9962006692
smita@cleapublicrelations.com

Chamundeswari Baji
Regional Coordinator- UNFPA -Laadli Media Awards
chamundibaji@yahoo.co.uk
09380934954

Preeti Gopalkrishnan Chopra
Communication Executive – Population First
preeti.gc@populationfirst.org
98200 10052

COMPLETE LIST OF AWARDEES

PRINT MEDIA

• Best Column:                
  C.G. Manjula, assistant editor, Sudha (Kannada)
• Best Editorial:                
  Satyavati Kondaveeti, editor, Bhumika (Telugu)
• Best Reporting:              
  Priyambatha, formerly reporter, New Indian Express (English)
• Best Reporting:
  V. Udaya Lakshmi, Prajasakti (Telugu)
• Best Feature:        
  Deepa Ramakrishnan, freelancer (article in Deccan Chronicle -- English)
• Best Op-Ed:             
  G. Sivakumar, sub-editor, Dinamani (Tamil)
• Best Investigative Reporting: 
  Siby Kattampally, Malayala Manorama (Malayalam)
• Best Cover Story:                        
  Kalki (Tamil weekly)Best Human Interest Story:  
  Mangayar Malar (Tamil monthly)
  
  ELECTRONIC MEDIA
• Makkal TV (Tamil) -- channel focussed on socially relevant issues, including gender.
• Tv9 (Telugu) -- for feature programme, Naveena, focussing on women's issues
• Best TV Documentary:
  C.V. Pramod Babu, Surya TV (Malayalam)
  
  ADVERTISING
• Product:  TVS Scooty Pep Plus - Scooty Siblings
• Agency:  McCann Erickson
  
  JURY-NOMINATED AWARDS
  THEATRE
• Prasanna Ramaswamy for her play Sruti Smriti Kriti (in English, on Bangalore Nagarathnamma)
  
  STREET THEATRE
  Mangai (Padma) for her work in theatre addressing issues relating to gender
  
  JURY-NOMINATED SPECIAL AWARDS
• Ammu Joseph "in recognition of her consistent engagement with gender issues"
• K.R. Meera for her "sustained reporting on the exploitation of women"
• V. Sriram for his book The Devadasi and the Saint:  The Life and Times of Bangalore Nagarathnamma