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Scribes get PM’s ‘tepid’ response
KATHMANDU, JUN 29 -
The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) on Tuesday submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, drawing his attention towards different problems that media houses and journalists have been facing.
The 11-point memorandum includes proper utilisation of the fund for public welfare advertisement in broadcasting media, growing threat to press freedom and lives of journalists, relief for the families of journalists who became victims during the insurgency period and construction of FNJ office buildings nationwide, among others.
The journalists’ umbrella body has expressed dissatisfaction over the government’s failure to allocate committed Rs. 80 million to journalists’ welfare fund in new budget.
“The government had assured us to fulfil our demands, but our issues have not been included in the new budget,” said FNJ Vice Chairman Govinda Acharya. “The government provided only Rs. 20 million to broadcasting media against the guaranteed Rs. 80 millions.”
Acharya said the prime minister gave lukewarm response to the FNJ team while receiving the memorandum and said the government will provide only those facilities “which are available and affordable at present”.
Handing over the memorandum, FNJ President Dharmendra Jha said journalists are still working in an insecure environment and demanded action against those behind attacks on journalists.
Jha also requested the government to take necessary steps to guarantee press freedom in the new constitution and help develop skills of journalists.
Other FNJ representatives Poshan KC, Ramesh Chalise and Dil Bahadur Shahi complained lack of proper treatment for sick journalists and demanded action against the killers of journalists JP Joshi and Prakash Thakuri. Thirty FNJ members had gone to submit the memorandum.
During the meeting, the prime minister stressed that the press should be accountable to the people and the country.
He also assured the FNJ team that the government is trying its best to release budget for the establishment of a “senior journalist honour fund,” provide relief to the families of the journalists killed during armed insurgency and release budget for the construction of a building for the FNJ and Media Centre.
On the occasion, Minister for Information and Communications Shankar Pokharel said his ministry is discussing with other ministries to release budget to meet the FNJ demands.
Posted on: 2010-06-30 08:29
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