Journalists’ meet

Forum of Environmental Journalists of India (FEJI) organised a water workshop for journalists from March 28 to 30 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The objective of this workshop was to sensitise the participants on the emerging issues in the water sector to ensure an informative and focused media coverage. The meeting brought together people from print, visual media and the net world.

Discussion varied from private partnerships in water management to drinking water crisis. The issues related to the involvement of private firms in the management of water triggered an intensive debate among the participants. Most of
them expressed their apprehension about private participation in water sector. Other issues included community management of water and rainwater harvesting.

On the second day, a panel discussion was organised. It primarily addressed the issues relating to the ‘economics of water’. In this context, the focus was primarily on the issues like privatisation of water, rainwater harvesting, rural water supplies and media’s role in reporting on water related issues.During the discussion, Shanta Sheela Nair, secretary of Tamil Nadu’s municipal and water supply department, shared her experiences in harvesting rain in Chennai.

Later, participants were given an invaluable opportunity to understand rainwater harvesting through the field visits. Three choices were offered, which included the visit to housing society, temple tank or to a bottled water plant

This workshop gave journalists an opportunity to discuss the problems faced by them, while addressing water. They agreed that knowledge and understanding on water was limited. It needs to be strengthened.