Programme: Special Correspondent

Telecast: Saturday, 9:30 pm

Repeat Telecast: Thursday, 4:30 pm

Adapted By: Shruti Gupta


To mark the completion of its 150 episode, the Special Correspondent team of Zee News revisited some of the issues it had brought to light in the past, and took a fresh reality check of the current situations. The new ground realities as uncovered by the Zee News Special Correspondents will be presented in two Special Episodes of the programme, to be aired on November 01 and 08 on the Zee News channel at 9:30 pm.
Among the flagship programmes of the Zee News channel, Special Correspondent has come to be recognised as a pioneer of investigative journalism on Indian television. During the course of its 150 episodes-long journey, the programme has taken the viewers to the remotest areas of the country, uncovering some of the best hidden and the harshest of realities. It has dared to venture into the unknown and bring out the unpalatable truths of the Indian society.
One of the most appalling realities that the programme had focussed its attention on is the plight of the Devadasis in the southern states of the country. Two years back, Special Correspondent Shailesh Reddy had captured the induction of 10 year-old Amla into the Devadasi system. Now, Shailesh went back to the Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh and met Amla once again to see how things had changed for her over these two years. While Amla`s family had seen through the evils of the system and pulled her out of the evil Devdasi system, the larger picture remains unchanged, as hundreds of girls continue to fall into the exploitative system of physical and mental abuse.
Another disturbing picture brought to light by Special Correspondent D N Singh was that of the Bhitarkanika National Park in Orissa. A splendid Mangrove forest and a sanctuary for a number of rare species like the Monitor Lizard, crocodile and the King Cobra, Bhitarkanika is facing a serious threat from the growing population in adjoining areas. D N Singh went back to Bhitarkanika, and saw that the situation had worsened as large-scale felling of trees and poaching has put the park in a very precarious situation.



Special Correspondent Srikant Pratyush had brought out the shocking story of the Bihar jails, where sentenced criminals were using false medical certificates to get transferred to the state medical college. Here they indulged themselves in all luxuries from restaurant food to mujras, maintained large caches of arms and operated thriving underworld businesses. Srikant saw that the only change over the last two years has been selective - those who have dared to oppose the ruling administration have been sent to languish in the Beur jail, while other criminals continue to enjoy lavish sentences.



One of the most positive revisits for the Special Correspondent team has been in Kashmir, where Naseer Ahmed had focussed on the plight of the young children of the militants. Shunned by the society and often left orphaned either at the hands of the security forces or the militants, these children had no access to education, health facilities, and in many cases, even a roof over their heads. The Special Correspondent episode focussed the attention of various NGOs...... on the issue, and many of them rushed in with support. Two years later, Naseer went back to find an improved situation in the state.