Wednesday, March 22 2006 16:12 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New York: Indian daily 'Malayala Manorma' has been awarded the prestigious 20,000 dollar 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 yesterday 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 article, organized 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).

Former winners of the prize, which is awarded every two years, include Radio Tico (Trinidad and Tobago), Maestro Pablo Pizzurno School and its radio station (Argentina), Radio Quispillaccta (Peru) and Radio Tanzania, Dar es Salaam (Tanzania).