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16 October, 2025. Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi: NHRC National Conference

Oct 16, 2025

16 October, 2025. Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi: NHRC National Conference

National Conference on Human Rights of Prison Inmates

16 October, 2025:  New Delhi: Speaker at the first session of the National Conference on ‘Enhancing Quality of Life of Inmates: Ensuring Dignity, Well-Being and Human Rights Behind Bars’ organised by National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on its 32nd Foundation Day with the theme ‘Human Rights of Prison Inmates’. The panel was chaired by Justice V. Ramasubramanian, Chairperson, NHRC. Other panellists were Rakesh Kumar Pandey, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Valay Singh, Co-founder and Lead, India Justice Report and Maitreyi Misra, Director of Mitigation and Mental Health and Criminal Justice, Square Circle Clinic.  The conference was organised by NHRC The conference was inaugurated by former President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind.  



Needless to say- Radio In Prison- published by National Book Trust, India was specially mentioned.

Chair: Shri Justice V. Ramasubramanian, Chairperson, NHRC

Panellists: 

Shri Rakesh Kumar Pandey, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs

Shri Valay Singh, Co-founder and Lead, India Justice Report

Prof (Dr.) Vartika Nanda, Indian Prison Reformer, Media Educator and Media Commentator

Ms. Maitreyi Misra, Director of Mitigation and Mental Health and Criminal Justice, Square Circle Clinic

Vigyan Bhawan had witnessed the release of Tinka Tinka Tihar in 2013 with the union home minister releasing it. Today, after 12 years, talking about the journey is going to be truly memorable. 

It was a proud moment to attend this conference on ‘Human Rights of Prison Inmates’  with former President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind addressing the 32nd Foundation Day.

The day was fruitful. Gratitude.









Press Release:  New Delhi: 17th October, 2025

NHRC’s National Conference on ‘Human Rights of Prison Inmates’ Calls for Comprehensive Reforms

Speaker at the first session of the National Conference on ‘Enhancing Quality of Life of Inmates: Ensuring Dignity, Well-Being and Human Rights Behind Bars’ organised by National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on its 32nd Foundation Day with the theme ‘Human Rights of Prison Inmates’. The panel was chaired by Justice V. Ramasubramanian, Chairperson, NHRC. Other panellists were Rakesh Kumar Pandey, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Valay Singh, Co-founder and Lead, India Justice Report and Maitreyi Misra, Director of Mitigation and Mental Health and Criminal Justice, Square Circle Clinic.  The conference was organised by NHRC The conference was inaugurated by former President of India, Ram Nath Kovind.

NHRC, India’s National Conference on the ‘Human Rights of Prison Inmates’ came up with several suggestions for improvements. Rehabilitation of prisoners, de-congestion of jails, encouraging correctional services, improving the mental health of prisoners, addressing the issues related to women prisoners and their children and de-addiction highlighted

NHRC Chairperson, Justice V. Ramasubramanian said the Commission will now work on an advisory to central and state governments for prison reforms and also evolve a mechanism for monitoring the progress.

NHRC Secretary General, Bharat Lal said the Commission organises Conferences with the objective to mainstream discourse on various issues to find solutions for the overall improvements in the human rights situation of different segments in society.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India organised a National Conference on ‘Human Rights for Prison Inmates’ in New Delhi

During the discussions, a lot of valuable suggestions came up on rehabilitation of prisoners, de-congestion of jails, encouraging correctional services, improving the mental health of prisoners, addressing the issues related to women prisoners and their children and de-addiction.


NHRC Chairperson Stresses Need for Action and Accountability

Chairing the Conference, NHRC Chairperson, Justice V. Ramasubramanian said that the purpose of the Conference was to learn from all the stakeholders about the problems being faced by the prison inmates and how and what appropriate recommendations can be sent to the Centre and State Governments. He said that the Commission will now work on an advisory to central and state governments for prison reforms and also evolve a mechanism for monitoring the progress.


Earlier, starting the discussions, Justice Ramasubramanian said that as per the UN office on Drugs and Crime report, the global prison population reached 11.5 million in 2022. Nearly a third of the global prison population is of pre-trial detainees with extensive costs to the state, communities, families and individuals. Prisons are overcrowded in the majority of countries worldwide. The budget, resource and capacity constraints lead to unliveable conditions and poor prison health. Prisons reinforce existing inequalities with an over representation of marginalized communities and insufficient attention to women, youth, persons with disabilities and other prisoners with special needs.


Quoting from the Prison Statistics India 2022 report released by the National Crime Records Bureau in December 2023, he said that in 2020 the occupancy rate of prisons in the country was higher by 118% than the actual capacity of 1306 prisons. It further rose to 131.4% of the actual capacity of 1330 prisons in 2022. The increase in the number of prisons did not help the situation.

Justice Ramasubramanian cited various laws in the colonial era and after independence with regards to prisons. He said that a recent initiative included the ‘Model Prisons and Correctional Services Act,’ prepared by the Union Government in the year 2023 with the objective of holistically addressing all relevant issues relating to prison administration. It has been shared with all States and Union Territories to modify their respective Prison Acts.

Session I: Enhancing Quality of Life Behind Bars

The conference was divided into three technical sessions. Justice V. Ramasubramanian chaired the first session on ‘Enhancing quality of life of Inmates: Ensuring dignity, well-being and human rights behind bars.’ The panelists included Rakesh Kumar Pandey, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Valay Singh, Co-founder and Lead, India Justice Report, Prof (Dr.) Vartika Nanda, Indian Prison Reformer, Media Educator and Commentator and Ms. Maitreyi Misra, Director of Mitigation and Mental Health and Criminal Justice, Square Circle Clinic. It was emphasised during the discussions that the solution has to be found with the right combination of creative and practical approaches besides the implementation of Model Prisons and Correctional Services Act. The need for collaborative attention from all stakeholders towards prisoners’ mental health was also stressed.

Professor Vartika Nanda’s Address: The Transformative Power of Prison Radio

Professor Vartika Nanda shared powerful insights on prison reforms, highlighting her initiative Tinka Jail Radio and her recent book titled- Radio in Prison, published by National Book Trust, India. She spoke extensively about how the book documents the evolution of India’s prison radio and the pioneering concept of jail journalism initiated by Tinka Tinka Foundation. The book showcases how prison radio fosters creative expression, emotional well-being, and rehabilitation, giving inmates a voice through Tinka Tinka Prison Radio Podcasts. Emphasizing the role of sound, music, and colours in improving mental health, she underlined how such initiatives transform the prison environment. Professor Nanda also discussed ongoing prison radio programs in District Jail, Agra, District Jail, Dehradun, and the jails of Haryana, where communication through the prison radio  is driving positive change. 

Session II: Women Prisoners and Their Children

The second session on ‘Female inmates and their children: Strengthening institutional framework for gender-sensitive prison reforms’ was chaired by Smt Meeran Chadha Borwankar, Former DG, BPRD and Core Group Member, NHRC. She highlighted issues of hygiene, mental health and access to skill development. She questioned the trend of relocating prisons away from cities, which further isolates inmates from their families. The panelists were Smt Tripti Gurha, Chairperson, NCPCR, Dr. K.P. Singh (IPS), Former DGP, Haryana, Professor Vijay Raghavan, NHRC Core Group Member and Project Director, Prayas and Ms. Monika Dhawan, Director, India Vision Foundation. The points emphasized included concerns over the lack of reliable data on children 6-years age living with their mothers in prisons, need for National Policy on Custodial Women, improved medical and mental health care, menstrual hygiene and need-based arrests besides giving interim bail for pregnant or lactating women and greater dignity in post-release rehabilitation.


Session III: Tackling Judicial Delays and Strengthening Legal Aid

The third session was chaired by Justice Rajeev Shakdher, Former Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court on ‘Undertrials inmate: Tackling judicial delays, strengthening legal aid and promoting alternatives to incarceration.’ He emphasised that prioritising merit in judicial appointments and processes could serve as an effective solution to mitigate delays. Since 2017, the case clearance rate in courts has consistently been 100% or above, indicating steady performance but there are persistent backlogs due to old pending criminal cases. The panelists included Manoj Yadava, Former DG (I), NHRC, Niraj Verma, Secretary (Justice), Ministry of Law and Justice, Dr. Rakesh Kumar, National Executive Director, SPYM. The issues highlighted during the discussions included frequent granting of adjournments as a leading cause of judicial delays, financial barriers to accessing justice, plea bargaining in expediting case disposals at an earlier stage, alarming rise in substance abuse, subpar quality among advocates, among others.

Concluding Remarks

In his concluding remarks, Secretary General, Bharat Lal said that the suggestions in the Conference will help the Commission firm up the recommendations. He said that the Commission organises Conferences with the objective to mainstream discourse on various issues to find solutions for the overall improvements in the human rights situation of different segments in society.


The NHRC, India Member Smt Vijaya Bharathi Sayani, DG (I), Anand Swaroop, Registrar (Law), Joginder Singh, Joint Secretary, Samir Kumar, Chairperson and Members of State Human Rights Commissions and other Commissions, judges of High Courts, senior government officers, academia, NGOs, human rights defenders, researchers, senior prison officers, among others participated in the Conference.


References:

Website of NHRC
Tinka Tinka Prison Reforms
Panipat Jail Radio Revolution। तिनका जेल। Brut। Year 2022। Tinka Tinka Foundation। Vartika Nanda
Blog: Dr. Vartika Nanda: Media Educator & Prison Reformer: 16 October, 2025. Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi: NHRC National Conference
NHRC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xRrwj47gqw

Webcast: Foundation Day 2025 and National Conference on Rights of Prison Inmates | Webcast Services of National Informatics Centre, Government of India

In Press
NHRC- Foundation Day 2025 and National Conference on Rights of Prison Inmates.

Kovind Launches NHRC Foundation Day Human Rights Conference



Oct 15, 2025

Vartika Nanda Poetry

 अजब संयोग है या दुर्योग

छूटी हुई प्रार्थनाएं याद आती हैं

तीर्थों में छोड़ आई थी उन्हें

लगा था – वे सुरक्षित रहेंगी और अपनी उम्र पा लेंगी

पानी पर लकीरें ही थीं

किसी की याद में आ गई हिचकियां

कोई थपकी ही थी किसी और छोर की

प्रार्थनाएं सच हों, यह अनिवार्य कहां

फिर भी फरेब की चोट से

टूट चुकी लकीरें भी

खुद में समाए रखती हैं – प्रार्थनाएं। 


Oct 14, 2025

13th October, 2025: Times of India


What has jail to do with our karma? Can silent contributions for inmates bring inner peace? hashtakarma? Can silent contributions for inmates bring inner peace?

The year was 1993 when I first visited Tihar, the largest prison complex in India. Not many would know the kind of experiences I had in the last 32 years. I have kept aside my spiritual experiences from the world of academia. However, today I am sharing this heartfelt conversation that I had with Speaking Tree.

This conversation has emerged out of the long journey of Tinka Tinka resulting in publishing four books on prisons, establishing Tinka Jail Radio, Tinka Prison Research Cell and exclusive storytelling on the lives of inmates. All this work is being done on an honorary basis.

Listen to this soulful conversation with The Times of India and Speaking Tree on jail bhakti and Tinka Jail Radio: https://youtu.be/_O0Z9lqTOHI?si=XZ7KgkBypKpLAfzs



Oct 13, 2025

Tinka Tinka India Awards: 2025 (11th Year): Last date: 30th October, 2025

 Tinka Tinka India Awards: 2025 (11th Year)

●       Inviting entries from all the prisons in India

●       Special awards for inmates who exhibit profound creative talent in painting and have made significant contribution to jail life and

●       Prison officials doing extraordinary work towards prison reforms

These exclusive awards for inmates and prison officials are annually given away by Tinka Tinka Foundation.

Theme for PAINTING:  MUSIC IN JAIL

Award Categories 

●       Tinka Tinka India Awards for Painting: Paintings should be related to the theme which is MUSIC IN JAIL

●        Tinka Tinka India Awards for Special Mention (Male):  Male/ transgender inmates who have made significant contribution to jail life

●       Tinka Tinka Bandini Awards for Special Mention (Female): Women inmates who have made significant contribution to jail life

●       Tinka Tinka India Awards for Excellent Jail Service: For prison officials who have gone beyond their call of duty to bring positive change in the lives of inmates

 Award Criteria

●        Each painting should be on A4 size sheet, bearing name of the participant (maximum five paintings per inmate)

●       Those inmates who have made any special contribution for the welfare of other inmates or for the prison system, can apply for the Special Mention category. These awards will be given separately to men/transgender and women inmates

●       Applicants should send brief details of the related work in not more than 200 words

●       Jail officials may send their profile along with the details of their outstanding contribution, especially related to the theme of this year

●       Only those jail officials, who have completed at least 10 years of service in the prison department, are eligible to apply. Entries for the jail officers/ staff must be routed through the Prison Headquarter.

Who can apply

●        All inmates and children of inmates living in prison

●        Prison officers and the staff

Points to Note

●        Inmates can apply for more than one category (paintings/ special mention). However, separate Google forms should be filled up for each one of them.

●        Decision of the jury will be final. Jury will include senior members from prisons/ police/ judiciary/the civil society.

●       Awards will be given on 9 December, 2025, on the eve of Human Rights Day.

How to apply: Google Form through website

●       All the entries must be sent in the attached Google form only (also available on the website www.tinkatinka.org) after duly filling up the details.  Entries in any other format will not be accepted

●       Paintings/ documents etc. should also be attached with the Google form given here:

1.      https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ZhBAQHnbyIrD1dNNy_o35U0oktkBw0XyfeP56yo0D-w/edit?usp=forms_home&ouid=105900949942122582913&ths=true : For Jail Officials 

2.     https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1MBfoNQLhWhMFSS3NrdQlgxiCkbR9T54SfIr1FvM0bYM/edit?usp=forms_home&ouid=105900949942122582913&ths=true: For Jail Inmates

Last Date of Submission

●       30th October, 2025

Background

●       Tinka Tinka India Awards, 2024: Released by Shri Manoj Kumar Singh, Chief Secretary, Uttar Pradesh, Shri Anil Garg, Principal Secretary, Jails and Shri K. Ramasastry, DG Prisons, Uttar Pradesh in District Jail, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

●       Tinka Tinka India Awards, 2023: Released by Shri Mohammad Akil, DG Prisons, Haryana in District Jail, Gurugram, Haryana.

●        Tinka Tinka India Awards, 2022: Released by Dr. K.L.N Rao. ADG Prisons, Gujarat at Central Jail, Sabarmati, Gujarat.

●       Tinka Tinka India Awards, 2021: Released by Shri Arvind Kumar, DG, Madhya Pradesh Prisons & Correctional Services and Dr. K.L.N Rao. ADG Prisons, Gujarat at Central Jail, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh

●       Tinka Tinka India Awards, 2020: Released by Shri K. Selvaraj, DG, Prisons, Haryana

●        Tinka Tinka India Awards, 2019: Released by Shri Sulkhan Singh, former DG, Uttar Pradesh and Shri Anand Kumar DGP/ IG Prisons, Uttar Pradesh, in District Jail, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

●       Tinka Tinka India Awards, 2018: Released by Dr. A. P. Maheshwari, Director General, BPR&D and Shri Bhupendra Singh, Director General, Rajasthan Prisons at Central Jail, Jaipur, Rajasthan

●       Tinka Tinka India Awards, 2017: Released by Shri Ajay Kashyap, Director General, Delhi Prisons in Jail No. 1, Tihar Prison Complex, New Delhi

Important Links on Tinka Tinka India Awards:

1. Tinka Awards: 2024: https://youtu.be/87nkSfnfQno?si=Scy0B995R-pv0hO

2. Tinka Awards: 2023: https://youtu.be/wW2Oh57wD70?si=WuuyGO1zXuBIVRqi 

3.Tinka Awards: 2022:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNObsYrK78k&t=23s

4.Tinka Awards: 2021: https://youtu.be/_gxPtgPjn7M

5. Tinka Awards: 2020: https://youtu.be/iW4VD5Z7XO0

6.Tinka Awards: 2019: https://youtu.be/F_rEF4Lt1SE

7. Tinka Awards: 2018:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Apq3v5eqUlo

8.Tinka Awards: 2017: https://youtu.be/gCdZHFr0xyk

Professor Vartika Nanda

Founder & Managing Trustee

Tinka Tinka Foundation

Contact: 9811201839

Website: www.tinkatinka.org

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vartika_Nanda


……………

तिनका तिनका इंडिया अवॉर्ड: 2025 (11वां वर्ष)


●        तिनका तिनका भारत में सभी जेलों से प्रविष्टियों को आमंत्रित करता है

●    इनमें विशिष्ट रचनात्मक प्रतिभा प्रदर्शन और जेल के लिए विशेष योगदान देने वाले बंदी और

●    जेल सुधार के लिए असाधारण काम कर रहे जेल अधिकारी अपने आवेदन भेज सकते हैं.

तिनका तिनका फाउंडेशन बंदियों और जेल प्रशासकों के लिए इन राष्ट्रीय पुरस्कारों की घोषणा हर साल करता है।


विषय: जेल में संगीत (MUSIC IN JAIL).


पुरस्कार श्रेणियां


●    तिनका तिनका इंडिया अवॉर्ड: पेंटिंग: संबंधित- जेल में संगीत- विषय पर पेंटिंग/ स्केच के लिए

●    तिनका तिनका इंडिया अवॉर्ड: विशेष उल्लेख (पुरुष): उन पुरुषों/ ट्रांसजेंडर के लिए जिन्होंने जेल जीवन में महत्वपूर्ण योगदान दिया है

●    तिनका तिनका बंदिनी अवॉर्ड: विशेष उल्लेख (बंदिनी): उन महिलाओं के लिए, जिन्होंने जेल-जीवन में महत्वपूर्ण योगदान दिया है

●        तिनका तिनका इंडिया अवॉर्ड: उत्कृष्ट जेल सेवा: उन जेल अधिकारियों के लिए, जिन्होने बंदियों के जीवन में जेल सुधार के माध्यम से सकारात्मक परिवर्तन लाने में अपने निर्धारित दायित्वों से अधिक योगदान दिया है


पुरस्कार मानदंड


●       तस्वीर/ चित्र/स्केच A4 आकार की शीट पर हों। उन पर प्रतिभागी का नाम जरूर लिखा हो (प्रति बंदी पर अधिकतम पांच प्रविष्टियां)

●    विशेष उल्लेख वर्ग में बंदियों का नामांकन संबंधित बंदी के द्वारा अन्य बंदियों के कल्याण के लिए या जेल व्यवस्था के लिए किए गए विशेष योगदान हेतु किया जा सकता है. इसके लिए पुरुष, महिला औऱ ट्रांसजेंडर-सभी बंदी अपना आवेदन दे सकते हैं

●        आवेदकों के काम का विवरण अधिकतम 200 शब्दों में होना चाहिए

●    जेल अधिकारी अपने प्रोफाइल के साथ उनके द्वारा किए गए जेल सुधारों, खासतौर से थीम से संबंधित उल्लेखनीय योगदान को, यहां दिए लिंक पर गूगल फॉर्म में भरकर भेजें

●       जेल अधिकारियों के लिए कम से कम 10 साल का जेल सेवा का अनुभव होना अनिवार्य है अधिकारियों के आवेदन जेल मुख्यालय के जरिए आने चाहिए.


कौन भाग ले सकते हैं


●    जेल में रहने वाले सभी बंदी और उनके बच्चे

●    जेल अधिकारी और स्टाफ


जरूरी बिंदु


●    बंदी एक से अधिक वर्ग के लिए ( पेंटिंग/ विशेष उल्लेख) अपना नामांकन भेज सकते हैं लेकिन दोनों के लिए अलग-अलग गूगल फॉर्म भरने होंगे

●       जूरी का निर्णय अंतिम होगा। जूरी में जेल/पुलिस/न्यायपालिका/नागरिक समाज के वरिष्ठ सदस्य शामिल होंगे

●       यह पुरस्कार मानवाधिकार दिवस की पूर्वसंध्या पर 9 दिसंबर, 2025 को दिए जाएंगे


आवेदन कैसे करें: वेबसाइट पर दिए गए Google Form के जरिए


●       विधिवत भरा हुआ फॉर्म प्रविष्टि के साथ इस लिंक पर भेजें

●        जरूरी अटैचमेंट भी इसी लिंक पर गूगल फॉर्म के साथ लगाएं

1.      https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ZhBAQHnbyIrD1dNNy_o35U0oktkBw0XyfeP56yo0D-w/edit?usp=forms_home&ouid=105900949942122582913&ths=trueजेल अधिकारियों के लिए

2. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1MBfoNQLhWhMFSS3NrdQlgxiCkbR9T54SfIr1FvM0bYM/edit?usp=forms_home&ouid=105900949942122582913&ths=true:  बंदियों के लिए


आवेदन भेजने की अंतिम तिथि

●       30 अक्तूबर, 2025


पृष्ठभूमि


●       तिनका तिनका इंडिया पुरस्कार, 2024: मनोज कुमार सिंह, मुख्य सचिव, उतत्र प्रदेश और पी.वी.रामासास्त्री ने जिला जेल, लखनऊ में जारी किए.  

●       तिनका तिनका इंडिया पुरस्कार, 2023: मोहम्मद अकील, जेल महानिदेशक, हरियाणा ने जिला जेल, गुरुग्राम में जारी किए.

●       तिनका तिनका इंडिया पुरस्कार, 2022: डॉ. के.एल.एन.राव, एडीजी जेल, गुजरात ने केंद्रीय जेल, साबरमती, गुजरात में जारी किए

●       तिनका तिनका इंडिया पुरस्कार, 2021: श्री अरविन्द कुमार, महानिदेशक, जेल एवं सुधारात्मक सेवाएं, मध्य प्रदेश और डॉ. के.एल.एन.राव, एडीजी जेल, गुजरात ने केंद्रीय जेल, भोपाल, मध्य प्रदेश में जारी किए

●       तिनका तिनका इंडिया पुरस्कार, 2020: श्री के.सेल्वाराज, महानिदेशक, हरियाणा कारागार ने जारी किए

●       तिनका तिनका इंडिया पुरस्कार, 2019: श्री सुलखान सिंह, पूर्व डीजीपी उत्तर प्रदेश और श्री आनन्द कुमार, पुलिस महानिदेशक/ महानिरीक्षक कारागार, उत्तर प्रदेश ने जिला जेल, लखनऊ, उत्तर प्रदेश में जारी किए

●         तिनका तिनका इंडिया पुरस्कार, 2018: डॉ. ए. पी. माहेश्वरी, महानिदेशक, बी.पी.आर. एंड डी. और श्री भूपेंद्र सिंह, महानिदेशक कारागार, राजस्थान ने केंद्रीय जेल, जयपुर, राजस्थान में जारी किए

●        तिनका तिनका इंडिया पुरस्कार, 2017: श्री अजय कश्यप, जेल  महानिदेशक,  दिल्ली जेल ने तिहाड़ की जेल नंबर 1, दिल्ली में जारी किए


तिनका तिनका इंडिया अवॉर्ड के महत्वपूर्ण लिंक

1. Tinka Awards: 2024: https://youtu.be/87nkSfnfQno?si=Scy0B995R-pv0hO

2. Tinka Awards: 2023: https://youtu.be/wW2Oh57wD70?si=WuuyGO1zXuBIVRqi 

3.Tinka Awards: 2022:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNObsYrK78k&t=23s

4.Tinka Awards: 2021: https://youtu.be/_gxPtgPjn7M

5. Tinka Awards: 2020: https://youtu.be/iW4VD5Z7XO0

6.Tinka Awards: 2019: https://youtu.be/F_rEF4Lt1SE

7. Tinka Awards: 2018:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Apq3v5eqUlo

8.Tinka Awards: 2017: https://youtu.be/gCdZHFr0xyk

Oct 12, 2025

11 October, 2025: Tinka Tinka Jail Journey on Sahitya Aaj Tak

जेल के 'बंदी' लोगों को तब दिखते हैं जब कोई अपना जेल जाता है... 

@vartikananda ने @jai_shiven

 संग बातचीत में ऐसी ही कई दिल छूने वाली बातें कहीं. पूरी बातचीत कल शाम 4 बजे सिर्फ साहित्य तक पर.

VN CHANNEL PROMO: कैसे बना तिनका 

तिनका। जेल। साहित्य तक। Vartika Nanda - YouTube





11 October: Promo

वो तिनका जो बना जेल के कैदियों की उम्मीद...

कैदियों की ज़िंदगी के अनछुए पहलू आपको सोचने पर मज़बूर कर देंगे.

लेखिका @vartikananda ने जेल और कैदियों के जीवन के बारे में वरिष्ठ पत्रकार @jai_shiven को जो बताया. सुनें, कल शाम 4 बजे, सिर्फ साहित्य तक पर.








Oct 10, 2025

SOURCES OF NEWS

A news source is any person or organization that provides information to a journalist. News sources can be a moving person or still documents, such as people who have witnessed the crime would come to the news source or documents found at the suicide crime spot would be considered as a news source. 

Bernie Sanders rightly said, “Citizens in a democracy need diverse sources of news and information.” Anything that provides news information for a period of time is said to be a news source.

There are several news sources such as official documents, governmental officials, witnesses of the crime scene, the victim itself etc. Other key sources are journalists and their correspondents, who gather information from various people, and direct communications like press releases, press conferences, and even personal networks of friends and family.  News sources are required for both the journalists and for the audiences.

Needless to say, news is dependent on news sources and the news organisations’ ability to get the news out in a timely (news being a perishable commodity), reliable and presentable manner. At the same time, of the many events that occur not everything becomes news. News therefore is a complex process that involves selection of events that are deemed ‘news worthy’. This selection implies three things: one, that a certain class of people who we know as journalists and editors make the selection on our behalf and decide what we must read as news; second, it inherently means that certain people or sources have more access or privileged access to media than others and therefore become newsmakers and third, it mandates a routinised functioning of the media which presents stories in a specified format and in a factory-like content production to produce news 24x7.

Since the role of journalists is interpretational in that they infer an event for us, framing it or mapping it in a certain social or cultural context and thus making it intelligible to the audiences, the choice of one source over another is often ideological.

Stuart Hall points at three aspects of the social production of news- first, the bureaucratic organisation of the media which produces the news in specific types or categories; second, the

structure of news values which orders the selection and ranking of stories within these categories and third, the moment of the construction of news stories which implies contextualisation of an event by the media.


Sources are very important to report on events or issues and explain the world to the audience. Journalists try to work as much as possible from their own observations, but this is often not possible. Some events or issues are finished before the journalist gets there. Others are like plants which only show their stem and leaves above the ground - the all-important roots are hidden from sight. Journalists who only report what they see can miss much of the news unless they have sources to tell them of more details or other aspects which are out of sight.

In the digital era, the rapid growth of information means not all sources are equally reliable. Every piece of information a journalist obtains—whether from an eyewitness, a police report, or an online dataset—must be verified for credibility, accuracy, and intent. Source verification is thus not something separate from sourcing, but an essential part of engaging with any news source. By training themselves in verification techniques, journalists ensure the news sources they use contribute to the integrity of the report rather than to the spread of misinformation.


TYPES OF SOURCES 

Primary Sources

Often the source is someone at the centre of the event or issue. We call such people primary sources. They are usually the best sources of information about their part of what happened. They should be able to give accurate details and also supply strong comments. Primary sources are original materials that provide direct evidence or first-hand accounts of an event. Primary sources in breaking news may include eyewitness accounts, official statements, and live footage from the scene. 

A word of warning here: If any of the sources, however reliable, gives the information which is defamatory, the concerned journalist can still be taken to court for using it. He/She is responsible for deciding whether or not to publish the defamatory material.

Characteristics:

Originality: They are original materials, not interpretations.

Directness: They provide a direct window into the event.

Evidence: They serve as the core evidence for a news story.

Examples:

Eyewitnesses: An individual who personally saw a crime or event.

Original Documents: A government report, a court transcript, a company's internal memo, a suicide note.

Direct Quotes: A speech given by a political leader.

Raw Data: A dataset of crime statistics from a police department or economic data from a government agency.

Media: Original photographs, audio recordings, or video footage from the scene.


Secondary Sources

Secondary sources are those people who do not make the news, but who pass it on. The official police report of an incident or comments by someone's press officer can be called secondary sources. Secondary sources are not usually as reliable as primary sources. Secondary sources interpret, analyze, or summarize information from primary sources. 

Most eyewitnesses should be treated as secondary sources for journalists because, although they are able to tell what they think they have seen, they are often not trained for such work and can be very inaccurate, without meaning to be. Journalists have to assess the reliability of secondary sources and if necessary tell  readers or listeners where the information came from. 

Characteristics:

Interpretation: They involve analysis and contextualization.

Synthesis: They often combine information from multiple primary sources.

Distance: They lack the immediacy of a primary source.

Examples:

-Official Spokespersons: A press secretary commenting on a presidential decision. They are relaying information, not the primary decision-maker.

-Expert Analysis: An academic expert explaining the implications of a scientific study. The study itself is the primary source; the expert's analysis is secondary.

-Reports about an Event: Another journalist's news article about a press conference.

-Most Information from News Agencies: While a news agency reporter might be a primary source for an event they witness, the report they file, once packaged and distributed, is consumed by other news outlets as a secondary source.


Secondary sources include:

I. Press Release

A type of news source where information can be collected through the official statements made to journalists by the concerned organization, a political party or a government department. This type of news sources are tagged as “Pseudo Events”. They  attempt to make publicity. Press Releases are generally used for the release of a particular news. A press release is a piece of news or information that companies send out to inform the public and the press about something noteworthy or of material significance. Press releases are usually handled by a company's public relations (PR) department.

Companies issue press releases, which may be spread to a wider audience through the use of a newswire service, to announce newsworthy topics, such as a new product, a quarterly earnings report, an impending merger, the cast and creatives of a new Hollywood film project, or any other material information.

Type of Press Releases:

1. General news & public announcements: This is to announce some important company news you feel is relevant and worthy of sharing.

Examples could be successful funding rounds, new management, or new technology to aid customers.

2. Event press release: Press releases can announce upcoming events hosted by your company to media outlets and current or potential customers.

It reveals the event's theme, who will be speaking, and where it will be held. The event could be a conference or charity event.

3. Crisis communications press release: The idea is to deliver the information about the situation to your intended audience and to detail how you will respond. It can also unite people, as we’ll see. 

4. Charity press release: You want a journalist to write about your event, fundraising, or campaign. The purpose is to raise awareness to a broader audience and increase participation.

5. Product launch or improvement press release: These press releases tell an audience about a new or improved product being launched. The idea is to focus on what makes this product different from your competitors and sell its benefits.

II. Press Conference 

It is a meeting at which somebody or the concerned organization talks to a group of journalists in order to answer their questions or necessary official statements. A press conference is an event organized to officially distribute information and answer questions from the media. Corporations, government bodies, and other organizations may use press conferences to address specific announcements. These events can be planned to address both positive and negative news, such as product launches or controversies, allowing companies to shape the narrative in their favour. Press conferences are often accompanied by a press release that outlines the details of the event, ensuring media and public awareness in advance.

III. Press notes

A Press Note is a shorter and smarter version of a press release. It is issued to the media for giving the highlights of an event, modifications in the event, and for giving rapid updates. It does not require many details since it is only interested in giving the important points in a concise manner.  The press notes are less formal in character. These are also issued on important official matters e.g. raising or lowering of tariff rates, price fixation of food grains, subsidy announcement of seeds, fertilizer etc. Apart from the name of department, place and date, a press note mentions headings. Unlike the press communiqué, the newspaper can edit or condense the press notes.

IV. Handouts 

According to John Hoheberg, author of the book “The Professional Journalist”, handout is a contemptuous name bestowed by newspapers long ago on the public relations news release. Writing techniques of a handout are mainly the same as that of a press release* However, a handout on the one hand, highlights President, Prime Minister and Ministers or some others top officials’ activities and on the other, it is meant for general people, so it should be written in simple, effective language with all important facts recorded objectively and honestly, and in the feast possible words.It should answer the 5Ws and IH. The handouts are issued on a variety of subjects like the day-to-day activities of the ministry or departments, VIP speeches, question and answers in Parliament or legislature and the developmental programmes of government departments. It covers the name of the PIB or information department. No official handout is issued, if the minister or a government official has spoken in his personal capacity.

V. Press statement

There is a subtle difference between a press release and a press statement, although organizations often use the two terms interchangeably. A press release is generally used for new information such as an announcement or update.   Press releases are also useful for conveying information such as statistical data, lists of candidates, or lists of polling sites.  A press statement is utilized for a reactionary statement. The statements are usually given by known people, then he shares his statement with the media and later this becomes a press statement.

VI. Police station 

Every event which is of big concern to the police station would be firstly found in the police station. If the reporter wants to know about a crime scene he would get first-hand information from the police station.

VII. Speeches

Speeches are one of the important news sources today. The highlight of the speech is done on “who spoke” and " what is spoken”. Majority of the political leaders, celebrities and famous people are given priority from the simple nonsense speech to the high level of speech.

VIII. News Agency

News agency is an organization that collects news and supplies to newspapers, television and radio companies at a certain cost. News agencies collect news and sources  and sell them to other news organizations.  News agencies are a steady source of news for media outlets.

Each news organisation subscribes to a large number of national and international news agencies or ‘wire services’ to keep a close tab on all that is happening in different parts of the world where they can neither set their own bureaus or afford to send reporters. For example, maintaining a foreign correspondent in all the capitals of the EU throughout the year will be extremely expensive, indeed out of reach for most newspapers or TV channels based in New Delhi which would otherwise mean that they cut themselves out from news developments in these places. 

IX. Internet

The Internet has somehow challenged traditional news sources in many ways. It  is a storehouse of information. Reporters are finding it easy in collecting news sources  that they don’t need to run for news events instead information is right on their doorstep. Search engines such as google  and websites have countless information to provide. New media and the internet have radically altered the way news is collected, disseminated and consumed. The significance of the internet as a source of news is very well documented in the literature on online news and social media. Newspapers and television news channels keep a track of what news items are posted on different news portals and websites on a daily basis.

However not all information from digital and social media sources is trustworthy. Sometimes, what appears to be a legitimate news source can actually be a conduit for misinformation or even deliberate disinformation. Journalists must recognize this possibility with every new source, adding an extra layer of critical assessment to the process of choosing and using news sources.

X. Written Sources

Written reports can make an excellent source of information for a journalist. They are usually written after a lot of research by the authors, they have been checked for accuracy and are usually published with official approval.

However, just because information is printed, that does not mean that it is reliable. With typewriters, computers and modern technology, it is relatively easy to produce printed material. One must look at who has produced the document. 

XI. Leaked Document Sources

Documents are often leaked by people who believe that the public should know the contents (such as an environmental report), but who are unable to reveal it in public themselves, perhaps because they do not have the authority to do so. In some cases, documents are leaked by a person to gain an advantage over someone else, perhaps someone who is criticised in the report. Leaked documents are often excellent sources of news stories because they can contain information which someone wants to keep secret. This might be a plan to do something which the public might oppose, such as bulldozing homes to make a new road. It might be a report on corruption within an organisation which the heads of that organisation do not want to be publicly known.

There are also legal dangers to consider when using leaked documents. They might, for instance, have been stolen. It is usually an offence to receive stolen property if one thinks it could have been stolen, even if it is only a few sheets of paper. Photocopying the document then returning it is often a way to overcome this problem. Leaked documents could also be covered by copyright, so a journalist could be breaking the law by quoting directly from them. He/She is on safer ground in reporting the substance of what was said, in their own words.

XII. Sources from Reporters

One of the most reliable sources of information (although not completely reliable) are other journalists. They may be  colleagues or reporters from a news agency which supplies one's organisation. If they are well trained, experienced and objective, their reports will usually be accurate and can be trusted. A reporter's story should be checked by the news editor then the sub-editor. 

XIII. Tip-off Sources

Occasionally someone will call with a story tip-off but refuse to give their name. These are said to be anonymous (meaning "no name"). These are the most dangerous sources of information and should only be used with extreme caution. Although anonymous tip-offs can provide good story ideas, they must never be used without a lot of checking. If they are wrong, the concerned journalist will be held directly responsible unless he/she has checked what they said with other more reliable sources.

On the basis of storage and experience, sources can be classified into:

Stored sources

This refers to information a journalist can look up, in a book, in a library, on the Web – anywhere that information is recorded. The good news reporter knows sources of information and can find them quickly. 

   Once, this was considered the least useful of all types of sources for the journalist. The web has changed that, however. Now because of the web, stored information can be accessed quickly and readily, and that information is much more likely to be more recent. Even the web does not solve the basic problems of stored sources: they are static (they can’t be questioned) and they still may not contain the very latest information.

Observational Sources

This is information that a journalist can get from personal experience, by going to a city council meeting, a fire, a press conference, etc. Reporters like to be on the scene. They like to be at events. Covering news from an affair is not always satisfactory. They like to see with their own eyes, hear with their own ears. They like to talk to the people who are there and get the sights and sounds and smells of a news event. Being an eyewitness to something and being able to talk to people who have experienced it is an experience that cannot be duplicated. Reporters learn to prepare themselves to cover an event by:

learning as much as they can about the event beforehand

getting into a position to see and hear what is going on

talking with people who are also experiencing the event

taking good notes; using a digital recorder; making notes to themselves immediately after the event

taking pictures

Personal sources

This is information that you get from talking to people. Most news reporters have to interview people to complete their news stories. Being able to talk to people — and getting people to talk to them — is one of the most important skills of reporters. Many people are reluctant to talk with reporters because they are afraid of being misquoted or afraid of the consequences of being in the news. Others are anxious to talk with reporters but they may not have good information or they may be pushing their own agenda or point of view. Reporters must learn to get the most from their sources by:

finding the right people to talk to is essential, rather than using “sources of convenience”.

respecting their feelings and position.

dealing with them ethically by identifying themselves, understanding the

principles of on-the-record and off-the-record conversations, and maintaining the confidentiality of sources even when it is difficult to do so (such as being faced with going to jail.

learning how to interview people properly.

On the basis of occurrence, sources can be classified into

Predictable News Source

Predictable News sources are sources that  are likely  to happen at a given time , date and location where the incidents take place. Such as  celebrations, conferences, festivals and parliamentary sessions etc.

Unpredictable News Source

A type of news source where  incidents  occur all of a sudden and out of control. The reporters are unaware about the happening of these incidents. For example- landslides, earthquakes, shootings etc.

Anticipated News Source

A type of news source where the information has to be investigated and  collected on the probability of making news. An example can be a reporter doing a beat report on crime.


Source Verification in the Digital Age

The ability to find sources has become easier, but the challenge of verifying them has become exponentially harder. Key principles include:

Corroboration: Always try to confirm information with at least one other independent source.

Source Motivation: Ask why the source is providing this information. Do they have a personal, political, or financial agenda?

Check for Evidence: Go to the primary source. If a report references a study, find the original study.

Digital Forensics: Use tools like reverse image search, metadata analysis, and geolocation to verify the authenticity of digital content.

Fact-Checking: Be wary of confirmation bias (believing information that fits your existing worldview). rigorously check every verifiable fact in a story.

Relationships and Boundaries with Sources

The process of selection, cultivation, and maintenance of news sources is ongoing and dynamic, affecting who gets sourced in the news. These relationships are essential as sources give critical information, context and perspective that influence the content, breadth and accuracy of news. But the balance of creating, and coordinating, these relationships does require a certain finesse burdened as it is by journalistic independence/ethical integrity.

Setting Boundaries: Professional journalism involves establishing clear boundaries that, if crossed, may lead to conflicts of interest or the perception that the journalist is too close to a source and can no longer report fairly. Friendly relations foster trust, but may not morph into personal friendships that might favor how information is collected or presented.

Preserving Independence: Independence makes sure that journalists are not swayed or controlled by any one source. That means being upfront with sources about how their information will be treated and not succumbing to pressure for positive coverage or quid pro quo deals.

Understanding Source Motivations: Understanding the reasons behind the motivation a source has for providing information is a vital part of a journalist’s job. Some sources wish to gain recognition, others wish to push forward a particular agenda, while others may want more covert objectives. Understanding these reasons is helpful when assessing the information that has been provided. 

Trust building through respect and professionalism: Respectful, honest, and clear communication fosters trust, encouraging sources to provide accurate and valuable information over time. Being reliable and timely in interactions strengthens these bonds.

Navigating challenges: Journalists may face sources who expect favors or attempt to control narratives. Strong boundaries and ethical standards help journalists withstand these pressures, ensuring stories remain fair and credible.


Link from the blog: Year 2024

https://vartikananda.blogspot.com/search?q=sources+of+news 



Oct 6, 2025

LANGUAGE OF NEWS: ROBERT GUNNING


(Disclaimer: This content has been compiled by the students of the Department of Journalism, LSR. These notes are to be used purely for academic purposes. No copyright infringement intended. The blogger will not be responsible in any manner whatsoever, regarding the authenticity of the information/ opinions of students expressed in this piece.)

 News is such information which happens all around the world. We obtain information on local, national and international affairs. Politics, sports, business, entertainment, science, technology, holiday‘s lifestyle, fashion and many more stories of human interest are covered by newspapers. Reading the news fulfills the desire of civil society to understand what is going around. While making news different aspects are taken into consideration. They are the news story, topic relevance, text size, number of details and socio-cultural values that are assumed to be shared by the readers. But the key role is played by the language of news. Before making any news the writer has to understand the linguistic community or the target readers.

News is written keeping in mind different variables such as Topic, Participants, relationship and Purpose. This is what makes the news more sensible and prominent. Topic is the subject of the news which is likely to be surprising, exciting and provoking for the readers. 

The language of news should be understood by people from different educational and cultural backgrounds. Sentences should be read smoothly, should not be dull, and should capture the life of an occasion. 

Language has a specific significance in news writing. Language is concerned with the exact manner in which words and phrases are presented in writing. When you read a passage aloud, every word or phrase that you hear constitutes the language. So it is clear that the written language is prepared on the basis of the reader's interest and ability. 

“ROBERT GUNNING”

The Techniques of Clear Writing is a book written by Robert Gunning in 1968. He emphasizes ten principles for clarity in writing. The book is recommended for writers and journalists who are in the field of newspaper and magazines.

Following are the techniques given by Robert Gunning for clear writing: 

Principle 1: Keep Sentences Short

The length of sentences must be short and average to avoid boring your readers. Length of 15 to 20 words per sentence would be a good average.

Short sentences are not enough by themselves. Long sentences are not the leading cause of confused writing. 

Unclear words block clarity. 

 Trim the heavy words and unclear words from your writing. 

Example: 

>  "Four aircraft passengers, the pilot, and three people travelling in a car were killed when a twin-engine Beechcraft Baron aircraft hit an electric power line and crashed near Nadi Airport this week. " (long sentence, harder to understand) 

> " Eight people died when an aircraft crashed near Nadi Airport this week. The pilot and four passengers died when their twin-engine Beechcraft Baron hit a power line. Thr plane then crashed into a car on a road near the airport, killing three more people." (multiple shorter sentences, easier to understand) 

Principle 2:  Prefer the simple to the complex 

Minimise the complex form of writing. You need both simple and complex forms for clear expression. 

Most of the time, the complex forms may be best. So, if the right word is a big word, go ahead and use it. But if a shorter word does the job, use it.

Example: 

Instead of saying "infrastructure", we can use roads, railways, and other services. 

Principle 3: Prefer the familiar word 

Tell it simply and straight which is obtained by avoiding intricate sentence structure and by using familiar words You can write with style but still be clear. So you have to avoid difficult words, jargon, foreign words, slang, or too many idioms.

Example:

 Indigent means poor... so use the word poor. OR use the word killing instead of unlawful or arbitrary deprivation of human life. 

Principle 4: Avoid unnecessary words

Letters can be cut in half and still say the same thing.

Unnecessary words usually create confusion. 

Example: 

Rather than saying: "The girl runs quickly", write: "She sprints" 

Instead of saying "The screen door didn't shut noisily", write "It banged shut" 

Principle 5: Put action in your verbs

Always try writing with an active verb. Readers want to read everything in present tense. 

A sentence is in the active voice when the subject does the acting. It's in the passive voice when the subject is the recipient of the action. 

Example: 

"The table was hit by the man" (passive voice) 

"The man hit the table" (active voice) 

Principle 6: Write like you talk 

Some grammarians would insist that "write like you talk" is poor grammar. They prefer "write as you talk." 

In some way storytelling and writing are completely different, but the writer would follow the way he/she talks.

"Write like you talk" also has its limitations when it comes to news writing. Newspapers — many at least — still prefer that news stories be written in inverted pyramid style and in an impersonal manner.

 Principle 7: Use terms your reader can picture

Avoid fuzzy (unclear) words. "Conditions," "situations," "facilities," "inadequacies" are typical examples.

 Use specific meanings of such words, which gives a clear picture in the 

Principle 8: Tie in with your reader's experience 

Much communication fails because writers ignore readers' beliefs, ignore how they came by them, and how firmly they hold on to them.

Highly abstract terms often are useful for thinking, but they are tricky in communication because they are open to such wide interpretation. 

 In trying to persuade readers to accept your words, remember that the meaning they produce will be determined entirely by their past experiences and purposes.

To get your words read, understood and accepted, you must have a clear understanding of your own purposes and of the purposes of the reader. If these purposes differ, you have two courses for winning acceptance of your message. You must either change your readers' purpose, or you must show them that though your purposes differ in part, they have, at the same time, much in common. mind of readers. 

Principle 9: Make full use of variety 

Introduce enough variety of sentence length, structure, and vocabulary so that the simplicity is not noticed. As a result, readers never think the writing is rough or childish. 

Variety is a main ingredient in the art of writing. Only practice can lead to variety. 

Example: 

If we are talking about stealing, we can use different verbs: steal, rob, mug, extort, swipe, poach, etc. 

Principle 10: Write to express, not impress 

When writing is easy, we make it more difficult by seeking out long, unfamiliar words, and in writing long, twisting sentences. 

Pay attention to clear expression, and for the most part grammar will take care of itself.