The South Asia edition of the Laadli Media & Advertising Awards for Gender Sensitivity 2024 (SALMAAGS) will recognize 14 stellar contributions in the media space across the seven South Asian nations on October 9, 2024. The call for entries was officially launched on August 1, 2024. The event will happen at the Tata Theatre, NCPA, Mumbai, from 6.30pm onwards.
The South Asia Laadli Media and Advertising Awards for Gender Sensitivity celebrates the media’s role in shaping perceptions towards gender, aiming for a fairer society. Apart from India, the fourth edition of the award covers Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Maldives.
The Ex-CEO and current Trustee of Population First, Dr AL Sharada shared, “These awards are an acknowledgment of the dedication and passion showed by the journalists and content creators in literature, advertising, films, and OTT platforms awarded at the (SALMAAGS). We hope that such influential, ethical and sensitive journalism will continue in the face of the current landscape driven by outside influence.”
Current Director Yogesh Pawar said, “In my 30-year journalism stint I’ve seen a lot of exceptional work but what these awards aim to recognize and celebrate stands out. I feel proud to belong to a fraternity which includes the 10 exceptional awardees nationwide and the 14 South Asian journalists.”
These awards are an initiative of Population First, a Mumbai-based social impact organisation that has been working for over two decades to promote gender sensitivity in media nationwide. Following a successful collaboration over the past several years, the initiative is once again being supported by UNFPA. Our collaborating partners for this edition are South Asian Women in Media (SAWM), the Asian Federation of Advertising Associations (AFAA), and our venue partner NCPA.
Winners selected from South Asia are Zarghoona Salehi, Reporter Pajhwok Afghan News Agency and Waslat Khan, Reporter 8am Newspaper from Afghanistan, Sonali Wanigabaduge, Journalist and Lawyer at News 1st and Aanya Wipulasena, Freelance Journalist from Sri Lanka, Aishath Mohamed, Deputy Editor AO News and Zamath Ahmed Waheed, Freelance journalist associated with Addana magazine, Hidhayathuge Ali magazine from Maldives, Binita Dahal, Correspondent with BBC and freelance reporter Kalpana Bhattarai from Nepal, Jamaima Afridi, Reporter/Filmmaker and Rabbia Arshad, freelance Investigative journalist and documentary maker from Pakistan, Damchoe Pem, Freelance journalist and Yangyel Lhaden, Reporter Kuensel Corporation from Bhutan, Tapashi Rabeya Akhi, Special Correspondent and Chief of Reporting at The Daily South Asian Times and Shumana Sharmin, Associate Editor Prothom Alo from Bangladesh
The esteemed Laadli of the Century Award will be presented to Dr Armaity Desai and the Laadli Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Bachi Karkaria. Hetall Dedhhia will receive the Laadli Woman Behind the Screen Award, while Advocate Vrinda Grover will be honoured with the Laadli Gender Champion Award.
The event will also feature a special performance of Sufi Kalaam | Songs of Women by Radhika Sood Nayak, Neil Mukherjee, and Vinayak Netke, adding a captivating musical dimension. The event promises to be a celebration of those who champion gender equality and drive meaningful change.
