Bringing change in people’s life is next task of govt: Minister Sharma

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Sept. 25:Minister for Communication and Information Technology Rekha Sharma has said that bringing about a radical change in the living standard of the people is the next task of the present government.

Addressing the journalism award distribution ceremony organised by the Federation of Nepali Journalists, Nepal Television Branch, Minister Sharma on Sunday said that it is the responsibility of the state to change the present condition of the people according to the changed political system.

In honour and memory of Nepal Television’s journalists Hemraj Bhandari and Sunil Kumar Singh, who died in a helicopter crash in Ghunsa, Taplejung on September 23, 2006, the Hem-Sunil Risky Television Journalism Award is distributed on September 24, every year.

This year, Mahesh KC of Rukum East and Shiva Silwal of Dhading have been given the awards. Minister Sharma handed over the awards to them amidst a special function organised at the NTV office, Singha Durbar. 

On the occasion, Minister Sharma watched the TV reports prepared on the life of Sisne Rural Municipality of 

Rukum East and dilapidated condition of Dhading Highway prepared by Silwal in the programme. 

After watching the reports, Minister Sharma said that despite unimaginable changes in the political and social spheres, the inability to bring about changes in people’s lives is a big challenge.

“Political change has been theoretically proven, and for its practical confirmation, there is a need to change the standard of the living of the people now,” said Minister Sharma. 

“Federal democratic republic is the best system so far, but if it is not possible to change the life of the people for a long time, then the political change cannot be saved just by singing the praises of the system. The government is serious and all parties need to be serious,” Minister Sharma said. 

She said that the federal democratic republic with freedom of press and expression was also achieved through a risky struggle, so this achievement should be established and carried forward.

After the political change, even though people from remote areas have reached high positions in the political field, there has been no change in the lives of the people of that area, she said, and added now the attention of the state, the media, and everyone should be focused on changing the living standards of the people.

Informing that various laws are being drafted for the reform of mass communication sector, Minister Sharma expressed her commitment to solve the problems of mass communication and information technology sector through timely laws. 

Minister Sharma also said that the social media regulation guidelines have been drafted and sent to the Ministry of Finance for approval and will soon be taken to the Cabinet.

In another context, Minister Sharma said that it is necessary to make Nepal Television competitive and likable, and the government promise to support every initiative taken to the same direction. 

Executive Chairman of Nepal Television Samir Jung Shah said that the risks in Nepali journalism should be taken as opportunities. General Manager of Nepal Television Phulman Bal Tamang said that occupational risk and technical risk are increasing and Nepal Television is also trying to move forward accordingly.

President of the Federation of Nepali Journalists, Bipul Pokhrel, said that it is necessary to prepare necessary laws and mechanisms to practice safe journalism. 

KC, a journalist from Rukum East who was honoured at the function, said that there is a problem in accessing information technology for doing journalism in remote areas, and he asked to build an environment for it.

The prize amount has been fixed at Rs. 100,000 from this year. Earlier, the cash prize carried a purse of Rs. 5,000.

Deepak Jung Hamal, President of the FNJ, NTV branch, congratulated the awardees and informed that Revolving Fund has been established for the award and there is Rs. 2 million in the Fund currently.