Regional Dailies

Voluntary organization Winrock International India organized two events - a workshop on ‘role of media in environment’ and a panel discussion on ‘corporate social responsibility’ at hotel Jehan Numa Palace on Monday.

The workshop on role of media was organised as part of a joint project of the Winrock India and the Lake Conservation Authority of Madhya Pradesh.

The project aims at reducing inflow of chemical fertilizers and pesticides into the Upper Lake. Farmers are being encouraged to make compost in proper manner and use it in their fields.

All speakers, including CEO of LCA J S Mathur, Abhilash Khandekar, Chief of Bureau, Hindustan Times, Surojit Mahalanobis of The Times of India, New Delhi, Rajesh Badal of Aaj Tak, Bhopal and Sushmita Malviya of Hindustan Times, Bhopal stressed on the need for greater coverage of environmental issues by both print and audiovisual media.

Mathur mentioned about various environmental initiatives taken in MP, which he felt, should get more media attention. Mahalanobis analysed the trends in environment reporting in print media and spoke about various reasons for limited coverage and solutions.

Panel Discussion on CSR: This discussion was also held as part of the joint project and representatives from industries and industry organizations in Bhopal and elsewhere participated in the discussion.

The keynote address was delivered by noted planner and chairman of National Centre for Human Settlements and Environment. M N Buch, who stressed on the important role that industry can play through providing technical knowledge and manpower to promote better environment.

Niranjan Khatri from Welcomeenviron Initiatives from the ITC Group, AP Bhatnagar, GM of State Bank of India, Bhopal, Jacob Mani of HEG, Srivastava, GM of NABARD and J S Mathur, CEO of LCA were the panelists, who debated CSR.

A number of corporate managers attended the panel discussion and shared their views.