Mangalore: Deccan Herald Chief Reporter Ronald Fernandes Bags ‘Sarojini Naidu National Award’
Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (RD/CN)
Mangalore, Sep 16: Dr Ronald Anil Fernandes, principal correspondent, Deccan Herald, Mangalore, has bagged the ‘Sarojini Naidu National Award – 2009’, for his special report on women and Panchayat Raj.
The award selection committee chose Fernandes for his special report on the achievement of women in child education and health as well as in the creation of a model village in Koila gram panchayat, Puttur taluk. Saraswati, a scheduled caste neo-literate, serves as the gram panchayat president in that village.
The award is also in recognition of Fernandes’ contributions to progressive journalism throughout his career. He obtained his doctorate in journalism for his thesis on 'children as determinants of TV programmes', from Mangalore University in the year 2007.
The Sarojini Naidu Award consists of Rs 2 lac in cash and a trophy. It is the first time that a journalist from South India has been chosen for this award.
The district unit of ‘Apna Desh’ is among those who have congratulated Fernandes for partnering in pro-people activities, rural literacy campaign, cleanliness and hygiene, development of tribal community, and model rural development campaigns.