Media Release

Mangalore, Dec 31: Aneesh Balan, Mangalore reporter of ‘Deshabhimani’ Malayalam daily has been awarded the prestigious ‘Surendran Nileshwaram Award’ for his excellence in reporting the problems and grievances of Malayalis living outside Kerala.

The Award, which carries cash Rs10,001 and citation, was instituted by Surendran Memorial Committee to commemorate former Asianet reporter Late Surendran Nileshwaram. Jury comprising media critic Dr Sebastian Paul, Asianet senior co-ordinator Mangad Ratnakaran and Professor KP Jayarajan had selected Aneesh for the award.
 
Aneesh received the award from Kerala Assembly Speaker G Karthikeyan at the 10th death anniversary of Surendran Nileshwaram held at Nileshwaram in Kasaragod district recently.
 
Aneesh, who has been working as the reporter of Deshabhimani in Mangalore for the past 10 years, is the son of Balakrishnan – Padmakshi couple from Chural in Mathil of Kannur district in Kerala. Aneesh announced that the cash prize of the award will go to Jisha Mathew, who is an endosulfan victim and also a cancer patient. Ironically this endosulfan victim was out of the list of Government of Kerala and Jisha's parents dont have a house of their own house.