Katra, March 23: Joel Michael, an alumnus of the School of Architecture and Landscape Design, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU), Katra, has been honoured with the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism.
Presented by President Droupadi Murmu, the award recognises outstanding contributions to journalism with a profound societal impact. Speaking at the ceremony, the President underscored the vital role of free and fair journalism in sustaining democracy.
Joel Michael received the award in the Environment, Science and Technology category for his investigative report on Punjab’s industrial pollution. His story exposed the lethal gas leak in Ludhiana’s Giaspura in April 2023, where 11 people lost their lives within minutes due to toxic fumes from open sewers. SMVDU Vice Chancellor Prof. Pragati Kumar and Head of the School of Architecture and Landscape Design Ar. Abhiney Gupta congratulated Joel Michael, highlighting his achievement as a testament to SMVDU’s academic excellence and societal impact.
