NE journalists awarded for reporting on women issue

Guwahati, Sep 16 (UNI) North east-based journalist Syed Zarir Hussain and local vernacular daily editor Hemanta Burman has been awarded the Sarojini Naidu Prize for the best reporting on 'women in Panchayati Raj' for 2006.

Mr Hussain is the special correspondent, NE region, for Indo-Asian News Service (IANS) and Agence France Presse (AFP).

He has received the award in the English category for a series on women pachayat leaders and their crusade against alcoholism in tea gardens in Asom.

The other recipient, Mr Burman, is the editor of the local daily 'Dainik Janambhumi'. He has received the award in the regional language category.

The Sarojini Naidu Prize, conferred under The Hunger Project, annually honours three journalists for their reporting of women in Pachayati Raj. The prize was initiated in 2001.

Besides the English and regional languages categories, the prize is given for coverage in Hindi.

The prize carries Rs 2 lakh cash prize and a citation. The award is given at a function in New Delhi on October 2, on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti.

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