Today, on November 19, Population First, a social impact organisation that works for women empowerment and gender equality, announced the yearly Laadli Media and Advertising Award (regional) for Gender Sensitivity 2021. Ninety eight winners across 10 languages have been awarded. Gaon Connection bagged three awards for its news articles under the categories of web feature and investigative stories.

Two news stories reported by former senior reporter of Gaon Connection Neetu Singh were awarded under the Web Feature and Investigative categories respectively. Also, a report by Purnima Sah, who freelances with Gaon Connection, bagged the award for Web Features category.

Singh bagged the first award for the Web Feature category for her news report on a mother who mends vehicle tyre punctures to make a living. 

This multimedia story is part of a series titled ‘Mothers of India’ on the occupations undertaken by mothers to sustain a living and raise their children. Gaon Connection profiled some of the mothers who are working beyond the conventions of society and the threshold of domesticity to provide for their families.

Also Read: “I could not bear to see my children crying hence I started mending punctures”

Singh received the second award under the investigative reporting category. The multimedia report highlighted how Dalit women in rural Uttar Pradesh still handle human excreta for some wheat, roti (flat bread) and pickles.

A provision of Rs 12,300 crore has been made for ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ in the general budget of 2020-21 and an average of Rs 10,000 crore is spent every year to construct toilets. But, manual scavenging is a scourge that continues to prevail in Jalaun district in the state.

For this danger-fraught work that strikes at human dignity, the women are usually given a few rotis, salt or pickle. Rarely, these households might pass on some leftover sabzi. For some years now, the women have settled for 8-10 paseri (about 2.5 kilogrammes) of wheat a year, in lieu of this difficult work that erodes human dignity.

Also Read: Affront to dignity: Dalit women still carry human excreta for wheat, roti and pickles in UP

Sah won the award in the Web Features category for her news piece on how West Bengal’s toll-free 24/7 helpline for women safety is dysfunctional.

The news report showcases that the 24/7 helpline is dysfunctional while its landline helpline works only five days a week during office hours. The story also pointed out how Assam’s helpline is under-staffed and cash-strapped.

Also Read: Women Safety: A dysfunctional toll-free women helpline in West Bengal; Assam helpline lacks sufficient fund

The Laadli Media and Advertising awards are supported by the United Nations Population Fund.

You can watch the awards ceremony here