Anil Agarwal Media Fellowships A DISTANT DREAM?

An investigation into the state of electrification in India’s remote villages

In 2009, the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) had identified about 18,000 remote villages -- mostly in regions where grid extension was not possible -- and launched a scheme called Remote Village Electrification Programme. The objective of the programme was electrification -- through renewable energy sources -- of those villages and hamlets where grid connectivity was either not feasible or not cost-effective.

The programme was terminated in 2012. As on June 30, 2013, there were 12,771 villages and hamlets that were sanctioned, out of which 10,154 were electrified.

How do these 18,000 remote villages and hamlets – spread across 25 states -- fare today in terms of electrification? Do they continue to fester in darkness, or has their dream seen the light of the day? Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) invites proposals from journalists working in India to investigate, travel for, and report on the subject.

Eligibility
The fellowship is open to all journalists working in India.

Duration
Two months -- September-October 2017

Compensation
Rs 50,000 per Fellow

How to apply
Please email your application in English to the undersigned. Attach the following documents with your application:

Fellowship proposal (not more than 500 words)
Latest bio-data
Letter of support from your editor, specifying that the publication / media house would publish / telecast / broadcast your stories done under the Fellowships

The Fellowship committee may request for some samples of your work at a later stage, if deemed necessary by the Jury.

Last date for receiving applications: August 10, 2017

For any other details, please contact:

Souparno Banerjee
The CSE Media Resource Centre
Email: souparno@cseindia.org
Contact no: 9910864339