Date:01/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/01/stories/2008120154200400.htm

New Delhi

Ranchi reporter bags Prabha Dutt fellowship

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: The Prabha Dutt Fellowship-2008 for Excellence in Journalism was announced at a function here in the Capital this past week.

The announcement was made by senior journalist Usha Rai, a close associate of late Prabha Dutt, whose bright and promising career as a fearless journalist with the Hindustan Times and India Today was cut short.

The fellowship was than presented to Anupama Kumari, a reporter from Ranchi, by columnist and author Sevanti Ninan.

Anupama talked about her proposed project on “The illusion of flood control: False promises, dubious intentions (The Koshi projects in Bihar and Nepal)”.

Her selection was made by a select jury team - Ramesh Menon, Angana Parekh and Mannika Chopra.

Anupama’s journalism is not oriented towards commercialism but directed towards social issues. She has travelled to difficult geographical terrains to bring before society the socio-economic issues related to the deprived of the society, especially the tribals, women and the displaced.

Her talk was followed by an address on the role of “Women Researchers in Indian Journalism” by Ms. Ninan. The function concluded with a vote of thanks by Sanskriti Pratishthan programme officer Shubhra Tandon.

The Prabha Dutt Fellowship of Excellence in Journalism is organised and conducted under the auspices of the Sanskriti Pratishthan. The fellowship is for a period of 10 months and offers an amount of Rs. 60,000.

This fellowship is to encourage dedicated women journalist in the age group of 25 to 40 to pursue meaningful projects including research on a book in English, Hindi or any regional language. It is exclusively for print journalist.