The Khelen Thokchom Trust (KTT) on Sunday announced its second edition of Khelen Thokchom Media Fellowship (KTMF) programme 2019-20 for Manipur journalists.
The fellowship is to study, highlight and report on Manipur’s Dying Water Resources.
This was announced by spokesperson Rinku Khumukcham of KTT during a press conference at Manipur Press club in Imphal on Sunday.
Also read: Khelen Thokchom Trust launches media fellowship for Manipur journalists
He said urbanization, deforestation, encroachments, conversion of the low lying areas into farms, disposal of garbage, leaching of chemical fertilizers, release of unhygienic watery waste from households, other toxic chemicals into drain and water bodies besides aging and the climate change are the major causes of degrading, polluting and ultimate dying of the water resources in Manipur.
Rinku said the basic idea to award the KTMF programme on state’s water resources was conceptualized to inform the general public on existing issues on water through media considering the current challenges in protecting and conserving our water resources.
He said rainwater, groundwater and wetlands were the main water sources of Manipur which comprises of 1,820 sq km of flat alluvial valley and 20,507 sq km of hilly terrain which forms a part of the Himalayan mountain system.
KTT also encourage them to highlight the economics and ecosystems of the state’s water resources besides introducing innovative ideas to protect and conserve the surface or underground or rain water through his/her writing to spread public awareness in safeguarding our ponds, well, rivers, springs, lakes and wetlands etc, he added.
KTT’s advisor, president and secretary besides other key functionaries of the trust were also present during the press conference.
The first edition of KTMF programme was awarded on ‘Prospects of the game of Cricket in Manipur’ considering the necessity to understand the potential of playing cricket among people living in Manipur which produces numerous world class sportspersons in different sports disciplines.
The media fellowship was conferred in the name of well known journalist Khelen Thokchom who engaged in different fields of journalism ranging from sports events to high political activities in Manipur.
Khelen who is remembered by the people of Manipur and North East India for his journalistic words in North East India passed away on April 1, 2018.
