Rural journalism fellowships awarded to 7 journalists

NEW DELHI, Feb 12 (UNI) Seven journalists have been chosen for the Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Rural Journalism fellowships for the year 2003-2004.

Dhirendra Jha of the Pioneer, New Delhi and Prashant Kanaskar of Jugur Jagar of Durg in Chhatisgarh were given one-year fellowships for doing investigative reporting on rural development programmes in English and Hindi respectively, an official release said.

Five journalists were chosen for six month fellowships.

They are Nava J.

Thakuria, freelancer, for Assamese, Dr Onkar Kakade, Prajavani, for Kannada, M.

Bilina, Mathrubhoomi weekly for Malayalam, Arjun Charan Biswal, Sambad, for Oriya and Vijay Chormare, Sakal for Marathi.

The fellowships have been instituted by the rural development ministry to encourage investigative reporting on rural development programmes from this year.

Every year two one-year fellowships, one each in Hindi and English, and ten six-months fellowships would be given, one each in Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Marathi, Malayalam, Oriya, Punjabi, Tamil and Telugu.

The one year fellowship carries a package upto a maximum of Rs 30,000 per month and a travel grant upto a maximum of Rs 50,000 for the term on the basis of tour programme approved by the ministry.

Besides, a lump sum grant upto to Rs 12,000 for meeting secretarial and other incidental expenses and reimbursement of upto to Rs 5,000 for purchase of books is also paid.

The six month fellowship carries a compensation package upto a maximum of Rs 30,000 per month and a travel grant not exceeding Rs 15,000 for the entire duration.

They will also be entitled to Rs 3,000 for meeting secretarial and other incidental expenses and reimbursement of upto Rs 2,000 for expenditure on purchase of books.