We are delighted to congratulate Munsif Vengattil, alumnus of the Department of Communication, University of Hyderabad from the M.A. Communication (2014–2016) batch, on being honoured with the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award in Business & Economic Journalism.
He shares this honour with fellow Reuters journalists Praveen Paramasivam and Aditya Kalra. Munsif received the award from the Hon’ble Vice President of India, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan.
Munsif Vengattil
About the Award-Winning Investigation
The Reuters investigation, “Apple supplier Foxconn rejects married women from India iPhone jobs,” uncovered deeply concerning hiring practices at Foxconn’s Sriperumbudur plant in Tamil Nadu. https://www.reuters.com/…/foxconn-apple-india-women/
The report revealed that:
Married women were systematically excluded from assembly-line roles
Hiring decisions were influenced by assumptions around “family responsibilities,” pregnancy, and absenteeism. Even cultural factors such as wearing traditional jewellery were cited as reasons for exclusion
The investigation highlighted that such practices were in direct conflict with the stated codes of conduct of both Apple and Foxconn, which prohibit discrimination based on marital status.
Impact of the Story
The impact of this powerful piece of public-interest journalism was far-reaching:
Apple and Foxconn acknowledged lapses in hiring practices
Recruiters were instructed to remove age, gender, and marital-status criteria from job advertisements
The report sparked nationwide debate and scrutiny on women’s access to employment in India’s manufacturing sector
A Moment of Pride for UoH
This recognition is a proud moment for the University of Hyderabad community.
Munsif’s achievement reflects the highest values of journalism — rigour, courage, integrity, and impact — and underscores the importance of reporting stories that drive meaningful change.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations and wish him continued success in all his future endeavours.