🌊 CALL FOR APPLICATIONS 🌊 NAGAR-NADI FELLOWSHIP 2025
Exploring Urban Rivers | Rethinking Riverfronts
Applications for the Nagar-Nadi Fellowship are now open!
About the Fellowship
Parisar, in collaboration with People’s Resource Centre (PRC) and Institute for Democracy and Sustainability. Parisar is a Pune-based organisation and People’s Resource Centre (PRC) and Institute for Democracy and Sustainability (IDS) is an independent research organisation based in Delhi, working on a range of urban issues like urban mobility, urban agriculture, infrastructure development on the river in Indian cities, the relationship between cities and rivers, and the challenges of pollution and public health.
As a knowledge hub, we produce reports, books, policy briefs, and conduct in-depth analyses to engage with government institutions, civil society networks, the media, academics, and policymakers. We also organise workshops, meetings, and seminars to share knowledge, exchange ideas, and foster dialogue.
Our work on riverfront development aims to understand issues related to riverfront development, with particular attention to the ecological and socio-economic dimensions that concern the city and its functioning. These projects focus on transforming riverbanks into recreational spaces to ‘beautify’ cities.
Many of these projects are inspired by the purported success of the Sabarmati Riverfront Development project in Ahmedabad. This has attracted the attention of the political class and the corporate elite in other parts of India which has led to strong interest in getting government and corporate control over the management of riverbanks and adjacent urban resources. All major cities situated on the banks of a river are now planning for or developing riverfronts on the urban stretches of the rivers.
Since these projects are planned for large-scale destruction, concretisation and commercialisation of floodplains, it seems plausible that these projects will have a significant bearing on not just the health of our rivers, which are already struggling against the degradation caused by capitalist urbanisation, but also on the communities inhabiting urban river ecosystems. Contrary to their claims, these projects may further deteriorate the relationship between city and river and exacerbate the urban population’s vulnerabilities to flood, climate crisis, food security and loss of livelihood.
Though the tragic death of rivers in India is a well-researched subject and has been on the central agenda of people’s movements and environmental activism, not enough attention has been paid to the impact of developmental interventions in urban and peri-urban parts of rivers. India’s urban rivers are at a crossroads, increasingly shaped by infrastructure-driven visions of development, often at the cost of ecology and community. In this context, this fellowship will involve the case study of infrastructure development on rivers in Indian cities, which are either in the construction phase or being planned.
Work Description
The three-month Nagar-Nadi Fellowship begins in August 2025.
During this period, fellows will undertake a range of activities, including:
- Secondary literature review related theme
- Fieldwork and documentation
- Interviews and transcription
- Engaging with local communities, planners, activists, political representatives, and scholars
- Capturing photographs of key sites
By the end of the fellowship, each fellow must submit a detailed, publication-ready report with high-quality photographs documenting the research findings.
Fellows may follow a flexible research schedule but are required to maintain regular coordination with the PRC team throughout the program.
Who Can Apply
We are seeking freelance researchers and writers with experience in urban development, environmental issues, or related fields.
Applicants should have a place of residence in one of the designated fellowship cities and be comfortable travelling to urban and peri-urban areas along the river(s) in their region. Preference will be given to candidates who are local residents familiar with the city’s social and ecological landscape.
Ideal candidates should have a strong interest in topics such as the city’s relation with rivers. urban sustainability, infrastructure, ecology, and alternative development models.
Applicants should be comfortable with:
- Fieldwork and interviews
- Report writing (MS Word and G Suite)
- Photography for documentation
- Fellows are expected to be good at writing and speaking in English, Hindi & native language.
Financial support
Each fellow will be awarded an overall fellowship of INR Thirty Thousand Rupees only. A limited amount of travel expenses related to the research for the fellowship will be reimbursed. Remuneration will be in multiple installments on a pro-rata basis linked with the delivery of pre-agreed interim outputs.
Locations
Case study locations are: Lucknow, Baroda, Jaipur and Bodhgaya.
In your email, please also write about the city you are interested in and why you would like to conduct this research in that particular city.
How to apply
Interested applicants are requested to send the following documents to prc.india@yahoo.com with the subject line:
“Application for Nagar-Nadi Fellowship” by 20 July 2025:
- A resume (CV)
- A cover letter highlighting relevant experience in the development sector or work related to cities, rivers, environment, or the displacement of communities
- A writing or creative sample (optional but strongly encouraged)
We welcome applications from individuals passionate about urban ecology, river systems, and socially just alternatives to development.
For questions, we encourage you to send an email to: chouhananiket008@gmail.com & prc.india@yahoo.com
Note: People’s Resource Centre is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on gender, caste, religion, ethnicity, age, marital status, disability, personal appearance, or sexual orientation. We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace where our differences broaden our understanding and enrich our experiences.
For more information, please email us at prc.india@yahoo.com.
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