‘Mining, Environment and People’s Protests’
September 15 – October 15, 2005

It is an issue that has stirred deep emotions, fanned desperate conflicts, and upset the applecart of ‘development’. It is also an issue that has largely gone under-reported or glossed over by the media.

The mining sector in India is growing 6 per cent – 7 per cent every year. After mining was deregulated in 1993, there has been a deluge of foreign investment. In 2003-2004, the country mined ores worth Rs 66,308 crore – up from Rs 30,736 crore in 1994-1995. About two million people are employed by this sector.

But what has it really meant for the environment and the people? How has it impacted livelihoods and socio-cultural systems? What has been the nature of environmental impact assessments (EIAs) and public protests related to mining? Have EIAs ever impacted operations in this sector in a positive manner?

Questions such as these acquire special significance with 85 billion tonnes of minerals still to be explored and excavated in this country. Centre for Science and Environment invites applications from India-based journalists to find the answers, through its Fifth Media Fellowship.

Who can apply

• Working print journalists
• Freelance print journalists
• Photojournalists

Compensation and funding
Selected fellows will each receive a total stipend of Rs 40,000 to support research, travel and writing between September 15, 2005 and October 15, 2005. A preliminary travel allowance of Rs 15,000 will be released at the start of the fellowship and the remaining amount will be awarded upon completion of the fellowship.

Eligibility requirements
Selected applicants will be required to take a one-month leave from their current employment to work on the fellowship. They will be expected to generate feature article/s totalling 5,000 words, based on the research carried out under the fellowship.

Applications must be accompanied by the following documents

• Curriculum vitae
• Three samples of published work on development issues
• Those writing in regional languages must have at least one of their articles translated into English
• Proof of leave taken (and granted) for pursuing the fellowship
• A letter of support from the editor that the output under the fellowship will be published (mandatory for all candidates, including freelancers)
• A two-page fellowship proposal outlining the subject/s and story ideas that the applicant proposes to focus on, travel plans and a list of people to be interviewed.

Last date for applying
Applications complete in all respects must reach the undersigned on or before
August 20, 2005.