Minister for Communications and Information Technology Gyanendra Bahadur Karki has asserted that decent, impartial, free and professional journalism was the need of the hour.
At a programme organized in the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MoCIT) on Monday to distribute allowance to senior journalists and unveil a book, Minister Karki viewed that the journalists should be the voice of the voiceless. "In the wake of the establishment of democracy, we need decent, impartial, free and professional journalism. I believe that today inspires all of us to move forward towards this," said Karki, reaffirming the incumbent government's support for freedom of speech and a decent press.
The Minister commended how the journalists in the past had worked with the main goal that the country should move forward towards prosperity through democracy at the time when the country was in oppression and called for the need to win the confidence of the people through decent and responsible journalism.
Stating that many South Asian countries had been providing an allowance to senior journalists, he opined that the allowance provided to the senior media persons at the moment would be a means of subsistence for them in future if all endorse this scheme coming days as well.
He said that the State's respect for the journalism had increased with the launch of distribution of allowance for the senior journalist."It is important to acknowledge whoever conceptualized this issue. Although the allowance is not sufficient to go by but it aims to give the message that the government is there for journalism by respecting and embracing the dignity of journalism."
Similarly, Dr Baikuntha Aryal, Secretary at the MoCIT, shared that the distribution of allowance for senior journalists, which was long overdue, was launched finally and distributed as per the criteria and procedure.
Stating that this act had given a positive message in the journalism sector, he shared that those serving in journalism for 30 years and above 65 years were eligible to receive the allowance. He also pledged to make the scheme attune to the changing time.
Likewise, Press Council Nepal's President Bal Krishna Basnet lauded the scheme, admitting that it was a good gesture on the part of State for the journalism and journalists. He extended thankfulness to Minister Karki for initiating this "new practice".
Federation of Nepalese Journalists President Bipul Pokharel extended his gratitude to Minister Karki and his team for implementing the agenda long raised by the Federation.
According to him, the beginning of the distribution of allowance to senior journalists had given the State an opportunity to recognize the journalism sector.
Gopal Budhathoki, a member of the Allowance Fund for Senior Journalists, said that the launch of the allowance scheme had delighted the journalism sector.
On the occasion, three journalists Chiranjivi Aryal, Nirodharraj Pandey and Padmabhakta Kharel distributed the allowance. Minister Karki handed over the cheque bearing the amount of Rs 5,000 to 76-year-old Aryal, Rs 7,000 to Pandey and Rs 10,000 to 77-year-old Kharel.
At the function, Minister Karki launched a special edition of Nepal bimonthly journalism, Nepal Parichaya( An Introduction to Nepal) and a book on the administration management in Nepal published by the Department of Information and Broadcasting.
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