RedInk Awards: Firstpost's coverage of Marathwada drought wins in 'Environment' category

Firstpost's coverage of the acute drought afflicting the Marathwada districts of Maharashtra in 2016, has won handsomely at the RedInk awards for Excellence in Journalism.[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="380"] (right to left) Shraddha Ghatge, Neerad Pandharipande, Tushar Dhara and Sanjay Sawant receive the award from Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis[/caption]Firstpost's coverage of the drought included a 13-part series, helmed by four journalists: Sanjay Sawant, Tushar Dhara, Neerad Pandharipande and Shraddha Ghatge. It won the RedInk Award under the 'Environment - Print' category.The series took a holistic look at the drought situation in Maharashtra, and the plight of hapless farmers left at the weather's mercy.From analysing factors that led to the crisis, to steps being taken to mitigate it, to possible solutions, and laws which are enacted in this regard, the series tracked the crisis through a year when rainfall proved to be deficient.Senior journalist Vinod Dua won the 'Lifetime Achievement in Journalism' award, while The Indian Express' editor-in-chief Raj Kamal Jha was declared 'Journalist of the Year'.Read the full series here:Part 1: Region is parched, impoverished and desperate, but it's a crisis of its own makingPart 2: In the midst of severe economic downturn, private water sellers reap profits in LaturPart 3: Drought has brought the economy down and is forcing farmers to leave the regionPart 4: Water scarcity has created a region where trust has eroded and left the social fabric frayedPart 5: Maha has the most dams in the country, but the least effective irrigation networkPart 6: A surveyor of suicides tells the story behind the statistics and the lonely struggle of Indian farmersPart 7: Will outreach help reduce farmer suicides?Part 8: 'Toothless' laws lead to water exploitationPart 9: Shirpur, Jal Biradari projects show impact of small local initiativesPart 10: Why debt-ridden farmers are deemed least creditworthyPart 11: Crop insurance for farmers not adequate to cover cultivation costsPart 12: How climate change has destroyed agriculture and ruined farmersPart 13: Maharashtra’s sugarcane addiction has a history which precedes the drought in Marathwada