The Barbara Foundation has awarded the top prize of this year’s ‘Barbara Foundation Investigative Journalism Award 2024’ to Devendra Bhattarai, Matrika Dahal, Deepa Dahal, and Ramesh Kumar. Bhattarai and Matrika Dahal.
The four joint winners were feted for a series of news stories, published on Kantipur daily, that exposed the fake Bhutanese refugee scam involving various politicians and high level government officials, among others.
The award, carrying a purse of Rs 1.6m, was presented by actors Madan Krishna Shrestha and Hari Bansha Acharya, and the foundation’s chair, Dr Sanduk Ruit, at an event held in Kathmandu on Thursday.
Deepa Dahal of Ukaalo.com and Ramesh Kumar of Himal Khabar won the second and third prizes, respectively. Dahal was awarded with RS 600,000 for uncovering the illegal appropriation of government land in Bansbari, while Kumar received Rs 300,000 as prize money for exposing the manipulation in the securities market.
Akhilesh Upadhyay, a member of the foundation, mentioned that 83 journalists had applied for the award, and four of them were selected as recipients. Among the applicants, around 90 percent were from print and online media, although investigative journalism extends beyond these platforms.
Upadhyay emphasized the significant role investigative journalism plays in creating an accountable society. He also noted that investigative journalism encompasses not only exposing corruption and political issues but also addressing social issues.
