Necessary laws related to communication underway: Minister Sharma

Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Rekha Sharma, has said laws related to communications are in the process of making.

At a programme organised here today on the occasion of the 73rd anniversary of Radio Nepal, Minister Sharma said that necessary laws including Mass Communication Act and Media Council Act are in the formulation process based on advice and suggestion of legal experts and concerned bodies.

Saying Radio Nepal, Gorkhapatra and Nepal Television are important media of communications, she shared that the government is in preparation to forward the Public Service Broadcasting Bill.

The Communications Minister urged one and all not to misuse communications and information technology. She directed Radio Nepal to produce more message-oriented programmes and to take them among the people, as well as to make a systematic plan where cent per cent of people could receive Radio Nepal.

Talking about the importance of Radio Nepal, Minister Sharma mentioned, “We were very weak in terms of information and communication. There was no internet access in our villages. Radio Nepal was only the available reliable medium of information, entertainment, and news. But it is still a reliable medium in the present context.”

She further said that Radio Nepal has revised itself as per the changing context of the country and pointed out the need for further reforms in some of the contexts.

Minister Sharma viewed that the role of Radio Nepal is more significant to safeguard achievements gained in the country—democratic republic, constitution and inclusive policies, to institutionalize the achievements and take them among the people.

She asked Radio Nepal to prepare a new plan at a time when the government is in preparation to make policies and programmes for the coming fiscal year.

On the occasion, Radio Nepal has awarded senior lyricist, singer and musician Madhav Shrestha ‘Mohit’ and senior Radio journalist Dhana Lama with this year’s ‘Rashtriya Shrasta Samman’.

Communications Minister Sharma presented the award. The award carries a purse of Rs 51,000 each.

Similarly, the prize was given away to winners of the modern song competition – Mamata Gurung (Kaski) who came out first, Muna Thatal (Panchthar) who came out second position and Saroj Pariyar (Bhaktapur). The competition was organised on the occasion of the anniversary.

On the occasion, Secretary of the Communications Ministry and Chairperson of the Radio Broadcasting Service Development Committee, Krishna Bahadur Raut, said Radio Nepal has been playing a positive role in changing the society through the contents as per the interest and demand of all Nepalis including the marginalized, backward and indigenous nationalities.

Presenting a progress report, Executive Director of Radio Nepal Buddhi Bahadur KC, said Radio Nepal could be received in Nepal and abroad as it has been broadcasting its contents through both technologies—terrestrial and digital.

Established on Chait 20, 2007 BS, Radio Nepal has now been broadcasting news in 21 languages, programmes in 20 languages as well as other musical programmes.