MAM
Laadli names Star’s ‘Nayi Soch’ as ‘Game Changer’, 37 awarded for excellence in gender portrayal
MUMBAI: Population First, with the support of India’s leading entertainment channel Colors Viacom 18, International Advertising Association (IAA) and UNFPA India, announced the winners of the First South Asia Laadli Media and Advertising Awards for Gender Sensitivity 2015-16 at Tata Theatre, NCPA. The awards were presented by Dr. Shashi Tharoor, MP, and hosted by the popular television journalist Barkha Dutt.
The current edition of Laadli Media Awards which is one of its kind awards on gender issues had for the first time invited entries from five South Asian nations with the support of IAA. The entries were invited and the best were chosen from five nations which include – Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Mauritius and Nepal.
“Media is a messenger which wielded power, but is also bound by responsibility. Media is a mirror that exists not to flatter, but to reveal what is lacking in our society, which is flawed and must be corrected,” said Tharoor at the First Edition of South Asia Laadli Media and Advertising Awards for Gender Sensitivity. He said that the media must break gender stereotypes and not reinforce them. He applauded the winners and boosted them to continue doing good work like the Lifetime Achievement Awarded, noted Activist Ms. Kamla Bhasin. ‘Breaking News – Challenging Gender Barriers’, a book, which is compilation of the stories of the winners this year was also launched at the event.
Dr. A.L. Sharada, Director of Population First and the driving force behind the Laadli campaign, says: “From a mere 100 entries in 2007 to more than 1500 entries in 2015, Laadli Media Awards have come a long way in acknowledging the media’s contribution in women empowerment and gender issues. Today with the expansion of Laadli to other developing nations through the support of IAA, we look forward to stories pertaining to gender from five South Asian countries. We hope to continue this momentum, and create a long standing impact of changing the society riddled with patriarchal mindsets”.
The evening saw performance by noted Kathak dancer Shri Vishal Krishna, (grandson of Sitara Devi) and a snippet performance from the Laadli Media award winning play Shikhandi by Faezeh Jalali and team.
The winners of South Asian nations included, Lubna Jerar Naqvi who has 25 years of journalism experience and covers gender sensitive issues in Pakistan. She is a part of International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) as gender safety expert. She has written extensively on sexual harassment, violence against women, honour killings, child marriage and gender equality at large in Pakistan. From Sri Lanka, Dinitha Ratnayake hold a decade experience in journalism and is currently the Deputy Manager –Current Affairs in one of Sri Lanka’s major radio channels “Neth FM”. She has worked on several investigations with regards to women’s concerns in the country and speaks evocatively on women’s rights issues. Ramkala Khadka is a senior journalist of over 15 years experience with a leading Nepali newspaper, Annapurna Post. She specialises in writing on women’s issues. She has written critically about the citizenship rights of women and inheriting citizenship from both parents. She has also covered the affects of domestic violence on the children at home. Martine Luchmun is a senior journalist with Le Sentinelle. Her journalistic work covers women’s rights issues for the average Mauritian women readers ensuring these women have a greater understanding of their rights. She has written feature stories that showcase women role models who have overcome various odds and are still fighting on.
Prominent Awards:
The South Asia Laadli Media & Advertising Award for Gender Sensitivity 2015-16 for the category‘Best Short Film’ was given to Radhika Puri for her short film ‘Water Wives’ which digs into the existing system of husbands marrying multiple times inorder to have wives double as labourers to fetch water.
The Laadli Media & Advertising Award for Gender Sensitivity 2015-16 for ‘Books in the Novella’category was given to Volga for her book Liberation of Sita published by Harper Collins. The Laadli Media & Advertising Award for Gender Sensitivity 2015-16 for ‘Films’ was given to one of the most appreciated film ‘Parched’ and ‘Neel Battey Sannatta’.
Laadli Media & Advertising Award for Gender Sensitivity 2015-16 for the category ‘Best Campaign’ was given to ‘Vicks’ for its brilliant portrayal of third gender. The Laadli Media Award for ‘Game Changer’ is given to ‘Nayi Soch’ by Star India. Laadli Media & Advertising Award for Gender Sensitivity 2015-16 for the category ‘Best Play’ was given to “Shikhandi” the story of the In-betweens, written and directed by Faezeh Jalali.
The South Asia Laadli Media & Advertising Award for Gender Sensitivity 2015-16 – Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Kamla Bhasin, Renowned Women’s Rights Activist.
The jury for the Laadli Media awards included prestigious names editors, writers, academicians and media professionals like KV Sridhar, Sameera Khan, Deepa Gehlot, Dilip D’Souza, Kumar Ketkar, Amrita Chowdhury, Amy Fernandes, Kalpana Sharma, Gurbir Singh, Ayaz Memon, Namita Roy Ghose, Kiran Khalap, Namrata Zakaria, Neeru Nanda.
Laadli Media Fellowship:
Announcement of the four recipients of The Laadli Media Fellowship were also made during the evening. These journalists include Katta Kavitha from Telugu daily regional Nava Telengana, Shreya Ila Anusuya, a freelance journalist, Sindhuvasini from BBC Hindi and Vinaya Deshpande from Sunday Guardian. Each of the journalist receiving the fellowship will write four investigative reports over a period of four months on the theme of Gender and Sexuality.
When you plan to buy medical insurance for your family, the first question is often about savings. You may assume that buying online automatically means paying less, but that is only part of the picture. The real issue is not just whether the premium looks lower, but whether the policy gives you suitable family health insurance without adding avoidable costs later.
Buying online can sometimes appear more budget-friendly because you can compare plans, review features, and complete the process without depending entirely on offline assistance.
Still, a lower visible price does not always mean better value. To understand whether you can truly save more, you need to look at the full buying experience and the policy terms together.
Why Online Purchase Can Look More Economical
When you explore family health insurance online, you usually get access to plan details in a more direct and organised way. This can make the buying journey feel simpler and more transparent.
A few reasons online purchases may seem cost-effective include:
● Easier comparison of policy features
● Direct access to premium details
● The ability to review inclusions and exclusions at your own pace
● Fewer chances of making a rushed decision
● More control over the plan selection process
This does not mean every online option is automatically cheaper. It simply means the online route may help you assess choices more carefully, and that itself can influence how much value you get from the policy you choose.
Saving Money is Not Only About a Lower Premium
A lower premium often catches your attention first, but that should not be the only measure of savings. If you buy medical insurance based only on what looks affordable at the start, you may overlook conditions that matter later.
A family health insurance policy should be judged on overall value, including:
● The scope of cover
● Waiting period terms
● Exclusions
● Room eligibility conditions
● Sub-limits, if any
● Claim-related terms
● Renewal conditions
If the premium is lower but the policy has stricter internal conditions, the apparent saving may not feel meaningful when you actually need hospitalisation support.
So, the better question is not only whether online purchase costs less, but whether it helps you select a plan that remains financially sensible over time.
Comparing Plans Online Can Prevent Overspending
One clear advantage of the online route is that it allows you to compare different options without pressure. This can help you avoid paying for features you may not need or missing features that matter for your family.
Before you buy medical insurance online, look closely at:
● Who can be covered under the plan
● How the sum insured works for the family
● Whether day care procedures are included
● How pre-existing illness rules are explained
● Whether add-ons are optional or built in
● How clearly the policy wording is presented
This level of comparison can support better decision-making. In many cases, savings come not only from the premium itself but from choosing a policy with fewer surprises.
Online Discounts Should be Viewed Carefully
Online discounts can make a plan look attractive, but they should always be read alongside the policy details. A discount may reduce the upfront cost, yet the true worth of the policy depends on what it covers and how it responds during a claim.
When reviewing discounted online plans, check whether the policy has:
● Treatment-specific limits
● Room rent restrictions
● Co-payment clauses
● Disease-wise waiting periods
● Claim deductions linked to the hospital category
● Limited cover for selected benefits
These points are important because a policy that looks cheaper at purchase may involve more out-of-pocket spending later. That is why discount-led buying should be replaced with detail-led buying.
Final Thoughts
Yes, buying online can sometimes help you save more when choosing family health insurance, but only if you look beyond the headline price. The online route may give you better visibility, easier comparison, and more time to review the policy terms.
That can support smarter choices and may reduce the chances of paying for a plan that does not suit your family well.
If you want to buy medical insurance online, treat savings as more than a discount. The real advantage lies in choosing family health insurance that balances affordability, clarity, and meaningful coverage for your household.
