Minister Gurung praises Gorkhapatra for achieving targets

By TRN Online, Kathmandu, Oct 20: Minister for Communication and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung has commended Gorkhapatra Corporation for achieving targets.

Addressing the 44th language-page launching ceremony at the 'Naya Nepal', a multilingual page in the Gorkhapatra Daily, Friday at Gorkhapatra Corporation office, Minister Gurung lauded the Corporation for its achievement of the set targets.

Minister Gurung formally launched the Rana Tharu language page in the Gorkhapatra Daily as the 44th language to be included in the daily. As a step of inclusiveness, Gorkhapatra has been publishing news in various languages by allocating separate 'Naya Nepal' pages for 17 years.

"It is a great moment that as per its commitment Gorkhapatra has succeeded in adding Rana Tharu language as its 44th language for its step to inclusiveness. Similarly, the commitment of digital archiving is about to be complete," Minister Gurung said.

The minister also suggested that the Gorkhapatra Corporation focus on quality news content and newspaper distribution at all local levels. On the occasion, the Minister expressed his commitment to amend old laws that have created barriers to running of Gorkhapatra in modern times.

Referring to the Gorkhapatra's achievement of targets coinciding with the government's 100 days, Minister Gurung shared that the Ministry has completed all set targets.  

Addressing the Rana Tharu language page launching programme, Executive Chairman of the Corporation Bishnu Prasad Subedi expressed commitment to implementing the suggestion forwarded by  Minister Gurung.

Executive Chairman Subedi said that by comprising 44 languages as a step toward inclusiveness Gorkhapatra has played a vital role in strengthening national unity.

"Gorkhapatra connects all those who use local languages through its multi-linguistic Naya Nepal page and in the real sense Gorkhapatra has reflected the picture and nature of Inclusive Nepal,"  he said, "It’s a matter of pride for us."

Similarly, speaking at the programme, Corporation's General Manager Lal Bahadur Airi highlighted the significance of the Naya Nepal page of Gorkhapatra.

"Gorkhapatra, which has come to include 44 languages in just 17 years, which is run by the Government, may be the first of its kind in the whole of South Asia," GM Airi added, "We not only add languages but are also committed to quality content for which a compact guideline is being prepared."

On the occasion, the Coordinator of the Naya Nepal and Sanibariya page Bibekananda Misra briefed about the initiation and development of the process of the multi-linguistic Naya Nepal page.