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Asha Krishnakumar has won the Kurt Schrok award in international journalism for her revelation of 'shameful abuses' suffered by children and 'bringing their voices to life', Columbia University announced on Thursday.
The citation particularly notes her coverage of the 'large-scale' prevalence of child labour in silk-weaving industry, the distress among handloom weavers in Tamil Nadu and constructive ways in which they can be helped and the medical malpractices evidenced in kidney commerce which, it says, led to reforms by the Tamil Nadu government.
The awards committee also recognised her 'compassionate and determined' reporting in the Indian magazine Frontline.
Since joining the magazine in 1991, Asha has written more than 400 articles covering human rights, deprivation, women, health, medicine, the environment and education.
Her approach to journalism, the citation says, has been marked by seriousness and precision, attempting to go beneath the surface and, above all, remaining sensitive to the condition, needs and aspiration of the marginalised and vulnerable people.
In the freelance category, Elizabeth Rubin won the award for her ability to tell a 'compelling and moving story while enlightening readers about the larger issues'.