PTI
 
New York, Mar 22: Indian daily Malayala Manorma has been awarded the prestigious $20,000 UNESCO-IPDC prize for Rural Communication, in appreciation of its efforts to raise awareness in Kerala about the importance of water conservation.
 

The Malayalam language newspaper was chosen for imaginative communication campaign Pala Thulli (Many a Drop) launched by it in May 2004, said a citation issued on Tuesday with the award, instituted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the International Programme for Development of Communication (IPDC).

The programme focused on inculcating the local population with new perspective on water, it said. The newspaper had published a series of articles, organised seminars and workshops, and disseminated videos and brochures on the subject.

Schools were especially targeted by organising a contest, said the citation. This year's other two finalists were the Community Media Centre of Banikoara (Benin) and Community Radio Madanpokhara (Nepal).