PTI photographer wins first prize at PII ICRC Annual Awards
December 04, 2020 21:49
Press Trust of India's Manvender Vashist has won the first prize in the best photograph' category in the PII ICRC Annual Awards for his picture capturing the dedication and courage of crematorium staff' during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Press Institute of India (PII), Chennai, and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), New Delhi, announced the winners of the annual awards for Best Article and Best Photograph at a virtual programme on Friday.
Vashist's evocative photograph, taken in June when New Delhi was under lockdown and people were fearful of stepping out of their homes, shows three people in PPE suits and a man in a mask while a COVID-19 patient, the body encased in plastic, is on the rails at a CNG crematorium in Nigambodh Ghat.
The man in the mask is crematorium staffer, 55-year-old Harinder Prashad, who is helping three relatives of the patient with the last rites, said Vashist, among those who overcame his fears to step out with his camera to document history as it unfolded in a city coming to terms with the unprecedented health crisis.
'In the Best Photograph category, Manvender Vashist of the Press Trust of India and Ashwin Prasath of The New Indian Express won the first and second prizes for their pictures... ,' PII-ICRC said in a statement.
The third prize went to Rinku Raj of Malayala Manorama.
The theme of the 14th edition of the awards was Superheroes: Battling at the Frontline in the Time of Crisis'.
The first prize in the Best Article category was awarded to Maitri Porecha for her article, Caught in crossfire: Martyred foot soldiers of India's War against TB.
The first, second and third place winners received Rs 100,000, Rs 70,000 and Rs 40,000, respectively.
This year, the awards hold special significance as we salute and pay our deepest regards to the hundreds of thousands of healthcare personnel, Red Cross volunteers, and first responders who continue to make extraordinary sacrifices in these unprecedented times as they step out of their homes every day to save people's lives and bring critical relief to those affected by the COVID-19 crisis, said Yahia Alibi, head of the regional delegation, ICRC, New Delhi, who was the chief guest.
PII director Sashi Nair noted that despite all odds, journalists are doing a great job in bringing stories to the fore.
There are also feel-good stories being reported.
But underlying all that is the passion to pursue good journalism, which indeed is heartening, he said. -- PTI
IMAGE: PTI photographer Manvender Vashist has won the first prize in the best photograph category in the PII ICRC Annual Awards for his picture capturing the dedication and courage of crematorium staff during the COVID-19 pandemic, in New Delhi. Vashists evocative photograph, taken on Wednesday, June 24, 2020, when the city was under lockdown and people were fearful of stepping out of their homes, shows three people in PPE suits and a man in a mask while a COVID-19 patient, the body encased in plastic, is on the rails at a CNG crematorium in Nigambodh Ghat. Photograph: Manvender Vashist/PTI Photo
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