Award for Gender Sensitivity launched

Chennai, Feb 6 (UNI) The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Mumbai-based Population First and the Catalyst Trust today announced the launch of 'UNFPA-Laadli Media Awards for Gender Sensitivity' for the Southern Region.

Talking to mediapersons here, Population First Programme Director A L Sharada said the purpose of the award was to acknowledge, highlight and celebrate the commendable efforts undertaken by various media to support 'gender - just' perspectives from the field of advertising, print and electronics media.

News coverage on TV or print media, articles, print or TV ads and jingles highlighting the value of the girl child, challenging dominant stereotypes, analysing social, economic and political developments from a gender perspective, offering alternative interpretations mobilsing the public would be eligible for participation, she added.

Open to the States of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka,Kerala and Puducherry, the last date for receiving entries is March five. The jury comprised a panel of eminent personalities who strongly supported the movement.

The awards would be given away on March 28, 2008 at the Music Academy in Chennai, she said.

Ms Sharada said in South India alone, the gender ratio per 1000 males was skewed with 964 women in Andhra Pradesh, 963 in Kerala, 939 in Tamil Nadu, 949 in Karnataka and 958 in Puducherry.

About 55 million females had 'disappeared' from the Indian map over the last ten years and another five million go missing every year, she claimed, adding ''this gruesome situation has led to the nationwide award movement to awaken our society and the media about this phenomenon.'' UNI SNR GM DS RK1750