Arati Jerath found nothing wrong in regional leaders being catapulted into the centre stage of national politics since that was part of the evolving democratic process.
Dr Ajoy Kumar felt low quality of legislative debate and lack of transparency in election funding caused the dearth of true leaders.
Kishore Bhimani moderated the discussion posing lively and provoking questions to the panelists . Ravindra Kumar, Editor and Managing Director, The Statesman, said the entries received for the awards showed journalists were continuing the fight against injustice and social inequities.
Saju Mulanthuruthy of Malayala Manorama was presented The Statesman's first prize for rural reporting.
Mulanthuruthy won the award for his articles about how very little is changing in tribal areas of the state, despite the elevation of the “Kerala model” as one to follow.
“There are a few journalists who go to the tribal areas. But it is a tiresome job,” he said.
“This generation of ours are telephonic journalists. When a murder happens, we phone, find out one person is dead, then we call the police. People don't go out to the hillsides or to the tribal areas, where you can't take a jeep and have to walk.
“Technology has its limitations. We are behind a computer. We have become clerical people,” he said.
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