Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, inaugurated the launch of Maithili and Nepal Bhasa news services at the Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) on Sunday. During the event at the RSS central office in Kathmandu, Minister Gurung praised the RSS for adopting greater diversity in its news services, aligning with the federal spirit of the country.
Gurung lauded RSS’s efforts in contributing to the Ministry’s 100-day targets, highlighting the importance of promoting and protecting Nepal’s multi-ethnic languages. “Introducing Maithili and Nepal Bhasa in RSS is a significant step for promoting language diversity in our federal system,” he said, calling it a “solid foundation for future reforms.”
The Minister stressed that preserving languages through collaboration between all levels of government was essential, and that language archiving by state media, like RSS, plays a critical role in this. He added that federalism is intended to promote equality in diversity, fostering national unity and ensuring greater citizen participation in governance.
Gurung also pointed out that other state media are expanding their services to include more languages, strengthening the country’s linguistic diversity. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting the right to information and freedom of expression, while pledging to transform Nepal into an IT hub in South Asia through initiatives in smart health, education, agriculture, and the digital economy.
Secretary Radhika Aryal, who also attended the event, praised the RSS initiative for establishing itself as an inclusive media organization and playing a crucial role in realizing federal principles. She emphasized the Ministry’s readiness to support further reforms at RSS.
Executive Chairman of RSS, Dharmendra Jha, expressed pride in the formal introduction of Maithili and Nepal Bhasa news services, calling it a significant milestone for the organization. He extended gratitude to Minister Gurung for his continued encouragement and to Secretary Aryal for supporting RSS’s goals.
Jha noted the importance of language protection in safeguarding media, stating that RSS’s work aligns with the federal concept of holding the nation together. He highlighted the role of RSS in bridging the government and the people by ensuring citizens’ rights to information.
Prominent linguists Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav (Maithili) and Suresh Kiran Manandhar (Nepal Bhasa) also made remarks, commending the initiative. RSS General Manager Siddha Raj Rai reiterated the organization’s commitment to expanding its services in line with the constitution, adding that the 24-hour news service will continue to grow to reflect the country’s diverse linguistic landscape.
20th Oct 2024
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