Kerala Kaumudi chief news editor V S Rajesh bags Dr Mangalam Swaminathan national excellence award

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Kaumudi chief news editor V S Rajesh has bagged the Dr Mangalam Swaminathan National Excellence Award for 2025. The award is for exposing the flaws in the health sector. The award was given for exposing the unholy nexus between hospitals and stent suppliers through a series of articles published in Kerala Kaumudi. This is the eighth year of national award being given by the Dr Mangalam Swaminathan Foundation. The award carries a cash prize of Rs one lakh and a memento.

V S Rajesh’s articles exposed the racket involving stent traders and private hospitals by which common people are charged with exorbitant price for stents. As an impact of this story, the central government intervened and took steps to reduce the price of stent throughout India, which proved to be a boon for poor patients.

VS Rajesh had also received the state media award for 2022. V S Rajesh won the award for the best interview in the television category for his interview with T Padmanabhan for Kaumudy TV. This was the fourth state award received for the interview program 'Straight Line'.

V S Rajesh has won several prestigious awards, including the national award from the Press Council of India. His wife is S S Deepa, a teacher at St Rita’s School, Aruviyodu in Thiruvananthapuram. His son is Raj Deep Sridhar, a BBA student of Christ Nagar College, Maranallur.

Meantime, Liz Mathew, deputy editor of Indian Express has been awarded the Dr. Mangalam Swaminathan National Award for Excellence in Journalism. Press Trust of India, chief correspondent Usma Athar is awarded the national award for excellence in science reporting.

Associate editor of Mathrubhumi News Biju Pankaj won a special excellence award in the category of science reporting.