November 2, 2022: Three members of Youth Ki Awaaz, India’s largest community-writing platform for young people have won the Laadli Media awards for their gender-sensitive reporting on various issues. These awards exemplify YKA’s belief and roots in citizen journalism and the power of everyday citizens to create change. These awards will be an inspiration to all those citizen journalists and writers who want to tell stories but feel that their voices won’t be heard.
Surabhi Singh, originally from Bihar and currently working in Delhi, is a journalist and documentary filmmaker. She received a Jury Appreciation Citation for her post titled ‘The Unequal Half: How India Sees Its Women In The Labour Force’ in the English Web Blog category. India’s women’s labour force is often viewed as dispensable and faces marginalisation and exploitation. Her story is groundbreaking for bringing their voices to the fore through this story. Her other work can be checked out here. Commenting on her win, she said, “I knew that I always wanted to talk about women in the unorganised sector and their unpaid care work. I spoke to women farmers, women construction workers and women domestic workers for the story. My learnings and observations form the crux of the story.” I’ve been a YKA user since 2019, when I was doing a PG diploma in journalism. I had a lot I wanted to say, and discovered YKA and used it to express my anger. YKA is super important for me because I’ve written a lot since then. Writing is talking – to yourself and then to others. It’s questioning, re-questioning and editing. YKA has played a major role in my life in that way.”
Rayees Ramzan, a freelance reporter from Budgam district of Kashmir, currently doing a Master’s degree in mass communication and journalism, has received a citation for his report on the Lack Of Menstrual Education Hygiene In Females Belonging To Rural Areas Of Kashmir’, receiving a Jury Appreciation Citation for the Hindi Web News Feature category. An insightful piece of journalism, it brings to light an important issue that often gets sidelined amidst the socio-political happenings in the state. Rayees has also done other work on the PMAY-G Scheme, fading Kashmir’s Art Folk and other traditions at risk in India. Sharing his experience in doing the story, he says, “I was selected for a media and journalism fellowship by Youth Ki Awaaz last year. YKA guided me like an institution throughout the fellowship. I spoke to multiple people from districts Shopia, Pulwama and Budgam for my story, and I’m glad that a critical issue like this was selected for the award. I thought this story wouldn’t happen because of the reluctance of the female menstruators to speak. There are no hospitals, we don’t have any information. People there didn’t even know what media meant. It took me a lot to convince them to share their struggles so it reaches the people of the country.”
The third award has been awarded to Saumya Jyotsna for her post on Kyun Pandityain Hone Ki Pehchaan Keval Ek Purush Purohit Ki Patni Hone Tak Seemit Hai? in the Hindi: Web Blog category. Saumya’s story on women priests is a fierce story on the truth of gender disparities in India, especially in an area that dominates conversations in India: religion. Her other work can be checked out here. “Mujhe third time award mil raha hai, jo mere liye bahut khushi ki baat hai. Lagatar teesri baar award milna khud mein bahut inspiring hota hai. YKA par likhte hue 5 saal hone wale hain aur in 5 saal mein YKA platform par Mera dusra laadli award hai. Mujhe bahut khushi ho rahi hai aur umeed bhi hai ki isse society mein badlav aayega. [I’m getting this award for the third time, which is a very happy news for me and an inspiration in itself. It’s been 5 years since I’ve been writing on YKA and it’s my second Laadli award at YKA. I’m really happy and I do hope my award-winning story brings a change in society.]”
A huge congratulations to all our community members for continuing to carry forward the baton of citizen journalism and creating real impact!