Lalitpur. Communication, Information and Technology Minister Prithvisubba Gurung has said that according to the republican system, there is a need for timely development in the law as well. He opined that even after coming from a multi-party system to a republic, there is a problem because of having to work on the panchayat-era laws.
At the opening ceremony of the 18th General Meeting and the 8th Session of the Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (Akorab), he expressed the commitment that even now the situation is to work on the basis of the 2013, 2019 communication laws and to replace them within a year to solve the problem. “This year, I will begin to end the distortions and discrepancies seen in the communication sector. Even after the republic, effective work could not be done due to the old laws related to communication. I will solve the problem honestly according to the principles of freedom of the press”, he said.
Minister Gurung opined that community radio is also facing the same problem as it has faced many challenges while investing in Hachuwa in every field. “In the past, many community radios were opened without doing research. Now more challenges have appeared. Now many laws are made within a year, we have already prepared the draft of the Mass Communication Bill, other draft laws are being prepared, some are going to the Council of Ministers. Cyber security is a big challenge now, laws are being made in that regard as well. We will also solve the problem of community radio,” Minister Gurung said.
Meen Bahadur Bishwakarma, Head of Nepali Congress Information and Propaganda Department said that democracy cannot be protected without the press and emphasized that the press should be strengthened. “Democracy and freedom of speech will not be saved by making the press go through complicated channels. Therefore, we should be serious about this matter”, he said, “There is a problem for the press when there are separate laws of the local provinces and the federation, so coordination, cooperation and facilitation are necessary so that one law works through a one-door system.”
Vishwakarma emphasized that the state should pay attention to solve the distortions, discrepancies and challenges in the communication sector while protecting the community radio in a different way.
Nepal Communist Party (UML) Propaganda Department Chief Rajendra Gautam expressed his belief that community radio will be selected from the leadership convention that can solve the problems it is facing at the present time.
The outgoing president of Akorab, Subas Khatiwada, complained that Nepal’s community radio had to face the problems created by the strict laws made by the three-level government. He said that the freedom of expression was tried to be controlled by making many laws related to communication.
President of Nepal Press Union Shiv Lamsal said that Nepal Press Union will always be active in the campaign to save radio. While mentioning that the Ministry of Communication has been pressured to solve the unnecessary hassles given by the government in the renewal of radios, he said that the government should provide necessary support for the operation of 62 radios that are closed.
Ganesh Basnet, president of Press Chowtari Nepal, expressed his belief that the Akorab convention will establish the leadership of the radio as desired. He emphasized that the community radio campaign started by Radio Sagarmatha in South Asia, as there are problems at present, we should work together to solve them.
President of Press Center Nepal, Bishnu Sapkota Jugal, said that Akorab has played a role in advancing Nepal’s community radio in a positive direction and making voices of the voiceless heard. He opined that the problems and weaknesses of yesterday should be corrected and the hopes and expectations of the people should be addressed.
Bishwamani Subedi, president of Samajwadi Journalists Society, Mohan Singh, president of Madhesi Journalists Society, Vimala Tumkheva, president of Sancharika Group, Kumar Bhattarai, president of Broadcasting Association of Nepal (BAN) expressed their wishes.
Arjun Giri, president of Akorab, complained that community radio has been neglected by the government in recent times. Out of the members, 316 radios are operational and 62 radios are closed, and the government should support them for sustainable management.
