Dainik Bhaskar Group journalist bags the Ramnath Goenka Award

According to a press note shared by the Dainik Bhaskar Group, Choudhary unearthed a heart-wrenching story of human/child trafficking in rural Rajasthan where kids were being sold as labour for factories. The reporter and a team of photographers and others spent over 15 months on this story that exposed a human-trafficking network that thrived across three tribal districts of Rajasthan, adjacent to the Gujarat border.

According to the press note, this story was rigorously investigated by the newspaper team to ensure continued follow up and directly managed to save the life of over 120 kids. As a direct result of the story, a special investigation unit for child and women crime was established at every police district in the state. Following the expose, the Rajasthan Police started a special drive on 1 January 2020 and has rescued more than 1,000 children so far.

Choudhary said, “Dainik Bhaskar has created the right environment in which we are able to flourish and spend meaningful time at ground zero, not only following up on the story, but also taking it to its logical conclusion. I am proud to be associated with such an organisation and humbly accept the award.”