Kantipur daily journalist Krishna Gyawali has been awarded with the Barbara Adams Investigative Journalism Award 2016. 

Gyawali bagged the award for his reports, exposing the malpractices and corruption prevalent in medical education of the country. Gyawali was handed over the award along with a purse of Rs 100,000 amid a function in the Capital on Thursday. 

Accepting the award, Gyawali shared that he began investigating into irregularities in medical education after his source, a government official, gave him a bulky report. 

“I was always concerned about protecting my sources first. So in my initial days, I only gathered information for writing later,” Gyawali continued, “Later, I could write a story based on the information provided by sources and guidance from experts in the field.”

Gyawali, however, admitted that he had gone through psychological pressure while writing continuously on irregularities in medical education sector. “I never faced any kind of threat during reporting. 

However, it was always bothering me inside, thinking of such threats,” he said, adding that the award would inspire him to write more in-depth stories. Former vice chancellor of the Kathmandu University Prof Suresh Raj Sharma highlighted the role of journalism in bringing irregularities in medical education to the fore. 

“Medical education can be exposed by journalism of high standards, especially investigative journalism,” said Prof Sharma, who was the chief guest of the ceremony.   

Former vice chancellor of the Tribhuwan University Prof Kedar Bhakta Mathema gave the keynote speech on ‘Probity in Public Life’ on the occasion.

Though people showing virtue in public life has become a rarity these days, there were still some virtuous people in society, said Prof Mathema. 

“There are some people who continue good work and lead a simple life independent of ‘Spartan living’, not afraid of speaking their mind out, lifting people at the bottom and ultimately at times suffering for their stance and faith,” observed Mathema. 

“While public office bearers have become shameless and double-faced, which is different in public and private life, people have become used to their antics.” The ceremony also marked the re-launch of the foundation. 

On the occasion, Francis Hollande, a friend of Barbara, donated Rs5.2 million for the foundation. 

The Barbara Peace Foundation Nepal, which was established in 2011 by writer and social activist Barbara Adams, has been awarding investigative journalism for divulging corruption through media. 

A total of 37 journalists from print, radio, television and online media had applied for the coveted award this year. A jury committee, comprising experts, had adjudged the winner following three rounds of selection process with the help from TU’s Department of Journalism and Mass Communication.

The foundation has been working in far-western districts of Baitadi and Darchula where it builds houses for Dalits, poor and other marginalised communities of the society.