Indians to be honoured in Manila

Three Indian journalists will receive the Developing Asia award for reporting on development issues.

Kerala-based journalist M Suchitra was among the three Indian scribes to be honoured at the 2006 Developing Asia Journalism Awards held in Manila.

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Prizes for 2006 were awarded for reporting in four strategic areas of development - poverty issues, people, development agencies and women.

Founder and Director of Quest Features and Footage in Cochin, M Suchitra 43, became the first ever female to win the overall Development Journalist of the Year title for her article on high maternal and infant deaths among tribals due to malnourishment and lack of access to services.

The winners and runners up each received cash prizes ranging from US $1,500 to US $500 in a ceremony on Wednesday night.

"About 320 million Indians go to bed without food every night and recent data suggests this already alarming situation is getting worse," Suchitra said.

Despite the magnitude and intensity of this problem, it remains on the margins of media coverage, she added.

The second Indian journalist to be awarded for her work was India Together's Deepa.A in the poverty issue category. Her story explored problems of poor students in private schools.