Kathmandu, May 7
President
Bidya Devi Bhandari has said that there can be no institutional development of
democracy without freedom of expression and freedom of press.
Speaking
at the National Journalism Award and Senior Journalist Felicitation Ceremony
organized on the occasion of the 7th National Journalism Day 2079 BS, she said
that the press in Nepal has played an important role in the transformation of
the society.
"Responsible
journalism is indispensable in democracy. The press must work to provide
accurate facts and information to people," President Bhandari said.
She
lauded Nepali media for its role in informing the public during the national
crisis like the natural calamities and epidemics and for providing accurate
information.
She
also urged the Nepali press to be sensitive so that the news coming from the
media should not be unfair to anyone.
Minister
for Communication and Information Technology Gyanendra Bahadur Karki said that
the role played by the Nepali press in achieving democracy and institutionalising
it in Nepal was significant. "Democracy is unthinkable without the freedom
of the press," he said.
Minister
Karki said that the dream of prosperity of the people could not be fulfilled if
the independent press and government could not work together. Stating that the
present government is always ready to protect and promote the press, he urged the
media to point out the shortcomings and weaknesses of the government without
fear.
President
of the Federation of Nepali Journalists, Bipul Pokharel, said that the
government has been intimidating media from time to time even though there has
been a share and partnership of media in every political change. He urged to
simplify the procedural delays and hassles in getting information from the
state bodies.
On
the occasion, President Bhandari conferred the Senior Journalist Award 2078 on Kishore
Nepal and Taranath Dahal. The amount of this award is Rs. 200,000 each.
Similarly,
journalists DR Pant, Iqbal Ahmed, Thakur Belbase, Bal Kumar Nepal, Ganga Baral
and Samjhana Ban were awarded with National Journalism Award 2078.
The
amount of this award is Rs. 100,000 each.
Likewise,
the Senior Journalist Honour 2076, which could not be distributed last year due
to COVID-19 pandemic, was conferred on Harsha Subba and late Agni Shikha. Uzir
Magar, Matrika Poudel, Sangeeta Khadka, Shesh Raj Dahal, Hemant Bahadur BK and
Sheetal Shah also received the honour.
Similarly,
Shardul Bhattarai and Raghu Mainali were honoured with Senior Journalist Award
2077 while Dilip Thapa Magar, Dipen Neupane, Durga Prasad Sharma, Saroj Jung
Pandey, Nitu Pandit and Poonam Poudel were honoured with National Journalism
Award 2077.
Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 8 May 2022.
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