“Women Journalists in the Areas of Conflict in Jammu and Kashmir

Charkha announced the Media Fellowships for Women Journalists in Areas of Conflict in Jammu and Kashmir during its Founder’s Day on Friday, December 7, 2007 at Gandhi Smriti & Darshan Samiti .

The Chief Guest Smt. Shiela Dikshi, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Delhi, presented the awards of Rs. 12,000/- each to three selected Fellows. Ms.Yangchan Dolma, a reporter from Ladakh, Ms.Anuja Khushu, Senior Sub Editor, the Indian Express and Ms.Rabia Noor, Reporter with Greater Kashmir. Speaking on Founder’s Day, Smt. Shiela Dikshit, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Delhi appreciated Charkha’s efforts and its work in rural remote areas in her address and role of media in portraying role of women in peace and development. The Fellowships have been supported by Unniti Foundation India.

The objective is to capture not only the challenges, aspirations and the issues of the people in this tension-ridden region, but to further encourage interest and research in the same. Besides lending the Fellows an important recognition in mainline media, the Fellowship offers them an opportunity to conduct an in-depth research in their chosen field of interest.

Profiles of three Fellows of Sanjoy Ghose Media Fellowship (2007-08)

Yangchan Dolma- She is working as a reporter in Ladakh for past four years. She has been working on the issues like culture, heritage conservation and caste discrimination. She is interested to research and write on Ladakhi women out of the closet and bringing about a silent revolution.

Anuja Khusu- Anuja is presently working as the Sr. Sub Editor, The Indian Express, Jammu. She has filed reports on impact of violence on women and children. She was the first one to highlight the plight of the family of first Army porter who killed during Kargil war. She has shown a keen interest to work on Women crafting peace amid small arms proliferation.

Rabia Noor- She is working as a reporter for Greater Kashmir for past two years. She wants to work on Orphans of the Kashmir Conflict: A Sociological Insight into Rights and Reality.