Awantipora: PhD research scholar at the Islamic University of Science and Technology and independent journalist, Gulzar Bhat won the WNCB Jury Awards for Untold Stories 2022-2023, an initiative by Work: No Child’s Business India. Bhat is among the five awardees who were selected for the award by an eminent and independent jury comprising senior journalists Usha Rai, Preeti Mehra, Indian documentary filmmaker Pankaj Butalia, and Communication Coordinator WNCB Tanja Brook.
Bhat, is pursuing a PhD programme from Rinchen Shah Centre for West Himalayan Cultures
under the supervision of Dr Ruheela Hassan. He also earned his Masters Degree in
International Relations from IUST. For the next few months, Bhat will look at the issue of
child labour among the pastoral Gujjar-Bakerwal community, and the children orphaned due
to conflict and forced to scrap out a living.
“Being a research scholar and journalist, this award will help me to develop deep research
insights”, said Bhat. The scholar’s selection for the award was appreciated by his teachers
and fellow scholars. “I am sure that the award will boost his confidence and enhance his
research acumen”, said Bhat’s research supervisor.
WNCB is a multi-country programme launched to contribute towards ending all forms of
child labour by 2025 and works in six countries–Côte d’Ivoire, India, Jordan, Uganda and
Vietnam.