State govt announces awards for 27 persons

KNS, lone media house to get award

Srinagar, Jan 26 (KNS): Jammu and Kashmir Government has announced State awards for atleast 27 persons on Republic Day in recognition of their contribution in different fields. Kashmir News Service (KNS) has become the first news agency of the state to get the award. According to government communiqué,  awardees under the category of outstanding media persons and organizations include Kashmir News Services (KNS), Bashir Manzar (Printer, Publisher and Owner Kashmir Images), Aurangzeb Naqshbandi (Special Correspondent, Hindustan Times), Javaid Malik (Senior Editor, Greater Kashmir), Ashok Jailkhani (Additional Director General, Prasar Bharati Broadcasting Corporation of India), Sanjit Khajuria (Director Prasar Bharati Broadcasting Corporation of India), Dr. Sameer Arshad (Chief Copy Editor, Times of India), Maneesh Chibber (Assistant Editor, Indian Express, New Delhi), Mohinder Verma (Special Correspondent, Daily Excelsior) and Bashir Malik (Director News Doordarshan Kendra/Radio Kashmir Srinagar). They will be given cash award of Rs 51,000, a medal and a citation.
KNS is the first News agency of the state to have bagged the prestigious award. The premier news wire of the state has already bagged the awards for best Assembly coverage twice besides having been honoured at various public and civil society platforms.
Launched in 2001 by its founder and editor-in-chief, Mohammad Aslam, KNS has now reached worldwide through its millions of readers and browsers. During last one decade, the news agency has elevated as the premier agencies of the state and has been able to establish itself as the leading online news gathering medium in the state with its subscribers and readers spread all over the world.
Meanwhile, awardees for Meritorious Public Service includes Chief Secretary, Madhav Lal, Commissioner Secretary Higher Education Tanveer Jehan, Principal Government Medical College Jammu, Dr. Rajinder Singh, Vice President, National Board of Examinations New Delhi, Prof. S. Jalal and Head Laboratory Technician, Government Hospital, Gandhi Nagar Jammu, Uttar Kumar Padha. They will be given cash award of Rs 51,000, a medal and a citation.
Having served at various places in J&K, Madhav Lal was appointed as the Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir last January.
He has been appreciated for his efforts for devolution of powers and monitoring of flagship programmes in the State. He has served on deputation with UN Mission at Kosovo where his role was appreciated by the United Nations.
Abdul Latief has been selected for Bravery Award. He will be given cash award of Rs 51,000 a medal and a citation.
Dr. Om Goswmi (Dogri/ Hindi Writer) and Ghulam Nabi Khayal (Writer/ Journalist/ Poet/ Research Scholar) have been selected for award for achievements in the field of Literature. They will be given cash award of Rs 51,000, a shawl worth Rs 10,000 and a citation.
Deepali Wattal (Vocal), Ghulam Nabi Bulbul (Sarangi) and Triloke Koul (Artist/Painter) have been selected for award for Performing Arts.