Impact 2021
From the Ground
ThePrint
Missed deadlines, cost overruns, tiff with Centre - why Polavaram isn’t yet Andhra’s ‘lifeline’
ThePrint reported that 80 years since first proposed, the Polavaram irrigation project, on the Godavari, is in limbo. The project was touted to irrigate 2.91 lakh hectares and provide drinking water to 28.5 lakh people.
ThePrint's investigation into the problems with Polavaram explained how systemic inertia and bureaucracy has plagued similar ambitious projects in India.
Max Maharashtra
MaxMaharashtra Impact: दृष्टीहीन विद्यार्थ्यांना अखेर लेखनिक मिळणार
Max Maharashtra reported on the difficulty faced by blind students to get 'scribes' to be able to appear for their higher secondary examinations.
Following the grantee's coverage on their plight, the state education department began setting up a 'writers bank' and a website for registering volunteer-writers.
Janjwar
JANJWAR IMPACT : लखनऊ के हरदासी खेड़ा में बदहाल सड़क और नाली बनने का काम हुआ शुरू
Janjwar reported on the plight of residents of Hardasi Kheda area in Lucknow who were living amidst squalor and dirt, with stinking, overflowing drains and dilapidated roads.
Following Janjwar’s reportage – the administration took cognizance and started repair work on the drains and damaged road.
Max Maharashtra
MaxMaharashtra Impact: अंधारलेल्या गावात तब्बल तीस वर्षांनी लाईट आली
Max Maharashtra’s coverage on the lack of electricity in a remote village, in Aurangabad district and the struggles of the affected citizens led to the administration electrifying the village, 30 years after they were first promised.
Khabar Lahariya
50 वर्ष बाद मिला आवास तो खिल उठे लोगों के चेहरे, खबर लहरिया की खबर का असर| KhabarLahariya
Khabar Lahariya reported on the plight of residents of Lauri village in Chitrakoot district in UP who were waiting for their share of funds allocated to them under the PM Awas Yojana, which they had not received for over 50 years.
Following the coverage, the funds were released, and the houses built.
Governance
The Caravan
One for the Record Books
The Caravan's four-month-long investigation into India’s Civil Registration System, the comprehensive digital records of births and deaths of Indian citizens, found that the database had been compromised for at least two years now, with fake certificates being sold for a mere two hundred rupees.
While the Registrar General of India did not respond to The Caravan, specific instances brought to their attention were deleted from their database.
Sikkim Chronicle
Sikkim 'One Family One Job' - the scheme that hurts or heals Sikkim's unemployment issues?
The Sikkim government's 'One Family, One Job' scheme was seen to be skewed against youth from rural areas as they were unable to apply online.
Sikkim Chronicle's report on this issue led the government to announce a quota to enable equal opportunities to young men across the state.
ThePrint
After big losses, TN garment hub’s message to govt is clear: Migrants must stop migrating
Severely impacted by the exodus of migrant workers during the pandemic, the exporters in the textile hub of Tiruppur demanded that the government put in place social and personal security measures for workers from outside the state.
ThePrint's story led the Tamil Nadu Industries Minister to assure the government's willingness to consider any proposal that was a “win-win situation” for the workers and the industry.
The Wire
Pegasus Project: How Phones of Journalists, Ministers, Activists May Have Been Used to Spy On Them
The Wire broke the story of how at least 300 verified mobiles of ministers, opposition leaders, journalists, lawyers, rights activists and officials in India were surveilled through the use of snooping software Pegasus.
The Wire’s findings, part of a global collaborative investigation, revealed the “frightening extent” to which citizens’ privacy and personal liberties were being compromised.
Environment
Asiavile
எண்ணூருக்கு அழிவே இந்த சாம்பலினால் தான்! | குட்டி Documentaries |
In a ground-reported story from Seppakkam, near Ennore in Chennai, Asiaville documented the everyday struggles of some of the area’s marginalised communities who have been severely affected by the dumping of ash by NCTPS - a thermal power plant owned by the Tamil Nadu government.
The documentary was chosen for screening at the Thinnai Talkies film festival on March 20, 2021, as a social documentary that made a difference.
The Bastion
The Hidden Politics of Forest Fire Management in Uttarakhand: The Van Gujjar Experience
Down to Earth
New software to keep fishing vessels away from Gahiramatha
Down To Earth reported that 800 Olive Ridley turtles had died since January this year due to the negligence of the state’s forest and fisheries department.
Based on the report, the Orissa High Court directed the government to install geo-coordinates of the Gahirmatha sanctuary’s boundary in GPS systems of all fishing boats to prevent entry to the sanctuary.
EastMojo
Darkness under the sun: The struggles of an Assam village against 'green' energy
EastMojo reported on tribal villagers in Assam’s Nagaon district being forcefully evicted from their lands to make space for a solar power plant, violating the the people's rights.
Persuaded by the rigour of the reporting, state's High Court issued a stay order on the solar power project, until the issues were sorted out.
Gender
Imphal Free Press
Families of rape victims lose hope as justice is delayed
Imphal Free Press story published on December 12, 2020, on how the families of rape victims wait in vain for justice and closure for years.
The Manipur High Court suo motu took up the issue and ordered the police to open a separate wing to deal with crime against women.
Feminism in India
A Letter To The President On The Non-Functional Telangana Women’s Commission
Feminism In India’s reported on the non-functioning of the women’s commission in Telangana.
Follwing the report, and subsequent public discourse, the Chief Minister's proactively appointed Telangana State Women's Commission chairperson and members.
Think Pragati
आधा आसमां. Women Hold Up More than Half the Sky.
Think Pragati discusses the inherent discrimination that women face in India, citing real-life experiences and how even rituals performed at the time of death are biased against the participation of women.
Think Pragati’s 'Puliyabaazi' episode on gender discrimination received significant traction on social media and was widely discussed. The grantee had listeners writing to them, after the airing of the episode, that that they gained a new perspective on domestic chores, public safety, and women at the workplace though the podcast.
News, Opinion, Polity
Article 14
11 Ways The Delhi Police Have Muddied The Delhi-Riots Investigation
The Caravan
Delhi Violence Unmasked
In a six-month-long investigation, The Caravan scrutinised social media accounts of members affiliated to sectarian organisations and parties ahead of the Delhi riots of February 2020 and the communal polarisation that they practiced.
TrueCopy Think
118- A: വായടപ്പന് നിയമത്തെ തോല്പിച്ച പ്രതിഷേധത്തിന്റെ വായ്ക്കുരവകള്
The vigorous reportage of TrueCopy Think played an influential role in repealing an amendment to the Kerala Police Act, 118A - which was perceived to be draconian, and a repurposing of Section 66A of the IT Act, which was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2015.
The India Forum
Why I’m Losing Hope in India
SC Observer
Collegium’s 13 Resolutions Recommending SC Judges
SC Observer took a close look at the Supreme Court Collegium’s resolutions, to understand the factors that go into appointing SC judges.
The report found that the Collegium considers the following factors to make appointments: merit, integrity, seniority, regional and social diversity, among others.
The Print
Mamata ‘implemented’ projects worth Rs 6.2 lakh cr, but just 2.5% shows up in central data
ThePrint exposed the huge discrepancies in the investment numbers of the Bengal government’s claims and records maintained by the Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), a nodal agency under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
This report irked the state govt and led to changes in the finance and industry department.
The News Minute
Why Tamil Nadu is the only south state that doesn’t live telecast Assembly proceedings
On September 8, The News Minute carried a story “Why Tamil Nadu is the only south state that doesn’t live telecast Assembly proceedings”. It was one of the poll promises of the current ruling party in Tamil Nadu but for 4 months since they have been in power this was not done.
A day after The News Minute's story was published, Tamil Nadu CM Stalin announced in the assembly that the live telecast of the Assembly will begin with immediate effect.
Society
Saptahik Sadhana
करोना काळात बहुजनांच्या शिक्षणाची वाताहत!
Saptahik Sadhana reports on the plight of children from the Bahujan community who have been deprived of education during the pandemic as they had to drop out of school to support their families.
The report brought to light the struggles of children from vulnerable communities who had little to no access to education during the pandemic and the resulting lockdowns.
India Development Review
How you can support nonprofits in their COVID-19 relief efforts in 2021
As the second wave of the pandemic intensified across the country, many organisations in the social sector started relief efforts to deliver aid to marginalised communities. To support their efforts, India Development Review amplified fundraising campaigns of over 300 organisations through their website and social media platforms.
Several organisations directly attributed funds raised, to their campaigns being amplified by IDR.
Imphal Free Press
Social stigma major cause of opioid overdose deaths in Manipur
Imphal Free Press consistently covered the rampant drug abuse and the dismal state of de-addicition centres in Manipur
Taking note of the coverage, the state's Human Right Commission held a consultation workshop in Imphal on September 30, and started an inquiry into the state of the de-addiction centres.
Suno India
Rare Lives – The People Beyond Rare Illnesses
Suno India's consistent and sensitive coverage of people with rare illnesses has helped in sensitising listeners to the struggles of people with rare diseases which defy instant remedies.
The episode helped spark a larger conversation around the subject, largely neglected by the media.
The India Forum
India and the Pandemic: The First Year
The India Forum published a collection of 24 essays in the form of a book that chronicled how India dealt with Covid in 2020. The essays covered the Covid pandemic outbreak in India, the lockdown, the law, and its impact on the economy & society.
The book found significant traction among readers.
EastMojo
Laika Dodhia, rehabilitation and conservation: How Mising people's existence is threatened
EastMojo persistently covered the struggles of the 'Missing' tribe's continued displacement.
This prompted local political leaders to try and negotiate a resettlement.
Healthcare
EPW
Risky Insurance: The Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana in Jharkhand
EPW analyses a ground-level survey of the PMJAY in Jharkhand that reveals that the scheme has been “rolled out prematurely” and it was left to the whims of the hospitals to determine which of the beneficiaries receive free treatment.
It brought out that the ambiguity in the scheme was being used by the hospitals to nudge the patients towards private hospitals who were charging exorbitant costs.
Imphal Free Press
HC directs state to take steps required by NMC guidelines
Imphal Free Press reported on the acute shortage of medical professionals and healthcare centres across the state, and the limited number of MBBS seats in Manipur's medical college.
This reportage led to the Manipur High Court directing the state government to increase the number of seats for MBBS courses in the medical colleges from the academic year 2021-22.
Saptahik Sadhana
वास्तवातलं जग समजून घेऊन स्पर्धा परीक्षेचा अभ्यास करायला हवा
A 24-year-old student took his life after failing to appear for the main examination of the Maharashtra State Service Commission. Kartavya Sadhana published a detailed three-part series focusing on the mental pressures experienced by MPSC & UPSC aspirants.
This began a public discourse on the toll such competitive exams take on the mental health of aspirants.
Down To Earth
The Honey Trap
Down to Earth's investigation into the adulteration of honey with sugar syrup, supported by laboratory testing and extensive field reporting on the state of bee-keeping in India – found that most of top honey processors were diluting the nectar with sugar.
The investigation was extensivley cited in mainstream media.
Live History India
India's War on Smallpox
During the Pandemic, Live History India covered an important story of how India managed to eradicate Smallpox through a united effort of the central and the state governments. This was at a time when there was a sharp national debate on the role of the Central government on procuring vaccines.
The story was instrumental in intervening in, and nudging, a critical debate at the time and received significant response from the readers.
The Bastion
The Struggles of Registering for COVID-19 Vaccines in Delhi’s Yamuna Khadar
The report by The Bastion from Yamuna Khadar, an informal settlement in the northeast of Delhi, exemplified the barriers in access to Covid vaccination in India by the marginalised sections of society.
The findings of this report are being used in a petition in the High Court against the CoWin app.
Fact-checking
Alt News
Does the video show Taliban ‘hanging’ a body from a helicopter?
Alt News published the report after several national and international media outlets and journalists carried erroneous reports claiming that an American interpreter was hanged to death on a Black Hawk helicopter by the Taliban.
Alt News was one of the first to reveal that the man was a member of the Taliban who was trying to install the outfit's flag on a tall poll. The report was cited by several international media including Reuters and CNN.
YouTurn
நோயாளியை சித்தரவதை செய்து கொலை செய்ததாக பரவும் தவறான வீடியோக்கள் !
Three separate videos were linked together and alleged that a patient was tortured and murdered for money at a private hospital and was spread on social media causing outrage against the hospital. You Turn fact checked and found that 3 different incidents were compiled as one video, for spreading fear and anxiety among patients.
This red-flagging stopped the fake video from spreading further.
Alt News
Who runs Kreately? – Alt News investigates the factory of hate and misinformation
Real-time takedown of misinformation can have a positive impact, as it alerts readers early enough for them to ignore or disable it before it assumes a viral form. In this regard, Alt News investigated the digital media outlet “Kreately” which it found consistently promoted misinformation and hate.