KATHMANDU:  Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, has stressed that it is the primary responsibility of Public Service Broadcasting Nepal (PSBN) to embrace inclusive values and thus ensuring that citizens have access to accurate information.

Speaking at a pre-launch programme for PSBN at the Nepal Television today, the Minister stated that Radio Nepal and Nepal Television have been merged to operate under the PSB model. He urged both entities to revise their working styles in line with the demands of the present time.

The establishment of Radio Nepal was originally aimed at amplifying voices for democracy; the Minister said stressing that the PSB should reach to citizen from diverse communities with guarantee of the relevance of PSB. He encouraged both state-run entities to promote fact-based information and engage in constructive, fact-based criticism of the government.

However, Minister Gurung emphasized that the role of mass communication capable of addressing the sentiments of all citizens in a multi-lingual, multi-ethnic society could only be fully realized through the PSB model. He stated that while the global PSB model cannot be directly replicated in Nepal, it should be adapted to reflect the country’s specific inclusive nature. “The inclusion within PSB will reflect the spirit of national unity and the Constitution.”
He expressed his hope that the PSBN would function with a participatory, equity and inclusive approach.

Stating that federalism was introduced in Nepal with the goal of building an equitable society amidst existing structural inequalities, he stressed that inclusion is vital to strengthening the nation. He took time to warn that the absence of inclusion will lead us to failure, urging the PSBN to adopt an inclusive approach to ensure its success.