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Mina Swaminathan Media Fellowship

The Mina Swaminathan Fellowship constituted in 2020-21, aims to intensify focus on the theme of gender in MSSRF. It is in recognition of Ms Mina Swaminathan’s contribution to operationalising gender and development as part of the institution’s core commitment to a pro-woman, pro-poor and pro-nature approach.

MSSRF began a gendered approach to research and development under the leadership of Ms Mina Swaminathan several years ago. She is nationally known for her contributions towards developing a holistic view on gender equality and child development, including the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), which takes account of the multiple needs and roles of women.

The Mina Swaminathan Media Fellowship (MSMF) is constituted with a main objective of promoting the exchange of ideas between researchers and the media / press persons for greater partnerships between science and media.

The broad theme for the Fellowship is ‘Gendered livelihood transformations and their impacts on food, nutrition and health security in the hinterlands of India’.

The first MSMF was in 2021 on the theme ‘Gendered Impact of Covid-19, how the pandemic has changed the women’s lives in the areas of agriculture, employment, income and access to market, healthcare, house maintenance, care work, etc’. Three young media fellows were identified through an expert committee and mentored by MSSRF researchers from three states – Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Odisha. They were oriented on the research activities of the Foundation in the areas of gender and livelihoods, development work at specific field sites as well as the objectives of the fellowship. Insight Briefs were later published based on the articles from the MSMF.

MSMF 2021 Awardees:

Ms V Nandhini, Tamil Nadu

Ms Jomol Jose, Kerala

Mr K Shreekanta Sahoo, Odisha

Insight Briefs

Tamilnadu

Kerala

Odisha

The theme 2022 MSMF is: Gender Transformative Approaches for Sustainable Food systems. The media fellows will study and report on the gender transformative approaches and strategies in promoting sustainable food production systems in rural and tribal landscapes in the states of Odisha, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

MSMF 2022 Awardees:

Ms Dharini Balasubramaniam, Tamil Nadu

Ms Neenu Mohan, Kerala

Mr Gyanachand Jagannath, Odisha

Insight Briefs

Tamilnadu

Kerala

Odisha

The theme 2023 MSMF is: 2023 being the International Year of Millets, what more can Indian policymakers do to get this ‘superfood’ into our daily diets, especially when evidence shows they are rich in fibre and helps prevent diabetes. To provoke discourse, MSMF for 2023 is centred around gender in the millets settings of India, and titled: Gender and Millets: Linkages and Inequalities.

MSMF 2023 Awardees:

Mr E. Mohan, Tamilnadu

Mr K. Rajendran, Kerala

Ms Prativa Ghosh, Odisha

Insight Briefs

Tamilnadu

Kerala

Odisha

The authors for the 2023 Insight Briefs are: Sangeetha Rajeesh and Kaia Lam

The 2024 theme for the MSMF is: ‘Water as a gendered issue in India’ and is in line with the UN’s designation – the 2024-25 Biennial theme to achieve the SDGs – ‘Water resources management for the four betters: better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life’.

MSMF 2024 Awardees:

Ms Indu Gunasekar, Tamil Nadu

Mr Shafeeq Thamarassery, Kerala

Ms Shatarupa Samantaraya, Odisha

Publications and Newsletters

International Conference 2021

This fortnight e-synergy has some of the eminent participants’ videos who speak on various issues related to food and agriculture.

Download
MSSRF Annual Report 2020-2021

Thirty-First Annual Report

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