[sustran] Tenth CSE Media Fellowships: JNNURM and Indian cities: misguided mission or reform blueprint?

[Vinay Baindur]

http://www.cseindia.org/content/tenth-cse-media-fellowships-jnnurm-and-indian-cities-misguided-mission-or-reform-blueprint


Tenth CSE Media Fellowships: JNNURM and Indian cities: misguided mission or
reform blueprint?

But has the scheme really benefited cities? What is the current status of
implementation of the projects proposed under JNNURM? Have there really been
any long- or short-term reforms in the way India’s cities are growing? The
Planning Commission's half-term review of the scheme is due this year. What
is the review most likely to find?

Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) offers a media fellowship to
journalists to study, investigate and report on JNNURM in our cities – with
respect to two key components: transport and water supply, sanitation and
sewerage. The fellowship offers a unique opportunity to travel to JNNURM
cities to look at the issues and concerns at close range and to write and
comment on them.

*Who can apply*
These fellowships are open to Indian journalists only, including
freelancers, photojournalists and television/video/radio journalists.

*Suggested areas of research*
Proposals must focus on either transport or water supply, sanitation and
sewerage, or both in JNNURM cities only. Under either head, applicants can
opt to investigate a wide range of issues:

   - State of infrastructure
   - Proposals and projects
   - State of implementation
   - Economics: the money trail
   - Corruption, controversies and conflicts
   - Impacts and benefits

See here the complete list of JNNURM
cities<http://www.cseindia.org/userfiles/JNNURM%20cities.pdf>
.

*Duration*
Two months – March 2010 to April 2010 – with one month of travel time and
another month for research, writing, publication and submission of stories
and features.

*Compensation and funding*
Selected fellows will each receive a stipend of Rs 40,000 (subject to tax
deductions at source) to support research, travel and writing between March
2010 and April 2010.

The stipend will be released in two installments – the first as a travel
grant at the start of the fellowship programme and the second after its
successful completion.

Applications must be accompanied by the following documents:

   - Curriculum vitae
   - For print journalists, three samples of published work on development
   issues. By ‘published work’, we mean articles published by/in national or
   regional newspapers or magazines.
   - Those writing in regional languages must have at least one of their
   articles translated into English.
   - For television and radio journalists, two samples of
   telecasted/broadcasted programmes on development issues – those
   telecasting/broadcasting in regional languages must also give a short
   written summary of the programme along with the CDs of the samples.
   - A letter of support from the editor that the output under the
   fellowship will be published/broadcast (mandatory for all candidates,
   including freelancers).
   - A comprehensive fellowship proposal outlining (a) the city/cities/state
   on which the proposal is focused, (b) the subject/s and story ideas that the
   applicant proposes to focus on, (c) tentative travel plans and (d) a list of
   people who might be interviewed.

*Last date for submission of applications *
February 20, 2010

*Fellowships output*
Selected applicants from the print media will be expected to generate
feature and news article/s totaling 5,000 words, based on the research
carried out under the fellowship. Original clippings of these articles will
have to be submitted at the completion of the fellowship programme.

Selected applicants from the audio-visual media will be expected to generate
either a single film/broadcast or a series of episodes, based on the
research carried out under the fellowships. CDs of these outputs will have
to be submitted at the completion of the fellowship programme.

Applicants who complete the fellowship programme successfully, will receive
certificates of merit.

*Additional research opportunity*
CSE might offer some shortlisted applicants a separate and additional
research opportunity -- to survey urban transportation projects in selected
JNNURM cities. Under this, shortlisted applicants will be expected to
investigate and collect/collate information on the basis of a specific
format/questionnaire prepared by CSE.

CSE would expect the shortlisted applicants to complete this research
project on a priority basis within the fellowship time-frame. CSE will pay
an additional small stipend to each applicant for doing this research on its
behalf.

Applications and queries should be addressed to:
Shachi Chaturvedi
Assistant Coordinator
Media Resource Centre
Centre for Science and Environment
41, Tughlakabad Institutional Area
New Delhi 110 062
Ph: 011-29955124, 29955125, Fax: 011-29955879
Mobile: 98187 50007
Email: shachi at cseindia.org
Website: www.cseindia.org