SHILLONG, March 26: A journalist with EastMojo, Princess Giri Rashir, was recently conferred with the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism, 2021, under the Environment, Science, and Technology reporting category.
Rashir’s documentary titled ‘Choking amid coking: Meghalaya coke factories leave no room to breathe’ earned her this esteemed recognition for shedding light on the dire consequences of coke factories in Meghalaya.
The 22-minute documentary delves into the detrimental impact of coke factories on the lives of the public in Meghalaya, particularly in the East Jaintia Hills and West Khasi Hills districts. Rashir’s investigative work highlighted the hazardous effects of these factories on both human health and the environment.
It may be noted that the documentary had prompted government action to address the issue of illegal coke plants in the state. The government formed a technical committee to investigate the operations of coke plants, leading to legal actions against those operating unlawfully. The High Court of Meghalaya’s order to shut down and demolish illegal coke plants marked a significant victory for both the ECC and the affected communities.
Rashir has now become the third individual from Meghalaya to receive this esteemed award, following in the footsteps of Rikynti Marwein, the Editor of Highland Post, and (L) Lambok Thabah.
