Minister for Communication and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung has said strengthening of the province-level media houses and their broadcasting news in mother languages will help in translating the spirit of federalism into practice. He said so while addressing the inauguration of a programme organized by Nepal Television Karnali Province Bureau and the broadcasting of news in Khasbhasa language by Radio Nepal, Karnali Province Broadcasting Station in Surkhet today. On the occasion, Minister Gurung expressed the belief that the news broadcast in the Khas language reflected the originality of Karnali. “We are in a democratic system.

The government is serious about ensuring the people’s access to information. Building the institutional structure of mass communication media in the province is part of that. Communication in the mother tongue means a stronger relationship between citizens and the state, and it further strengthens national unity,” he said. Stating that Karnali Province will not only be heard but developed as per the people’s aspirations, Minister Gurung, also the government spokesperson, expressed the commitment that the federal government will prioritize working with the provincial government for the development of Karnali. He mentioned that the government media have been active in preserving and promoting the languages and culture to strengthen national unity. Radio Nepal, Nepal Television, Gorakhapatra and the National News Agency (RSS) have focused on reaching the people, he added. According to the Minister, these media have played an important role in promoting the prosperity and good governance of the country.

He expressed his commitment to making Nepal’s public service broadcasting even more effective with the realization that the first duty is to provide information to the public. Sharing about the government’s preparations for diversifications of languages including English in the NTV contents to meet the purposed of globalizing the services, the Minister pledged to cooperative with the Karnali province government to implement it initiative for a ‘digital province’.

He described the launch of the NTV news in the Khas language a historic effort to enhance the language, culture identification and communications access of the region. Expressing his hope that inclusion in communications access and the dissemination of news in the local dialect will help further strengthen the democracy, promising to continue with such constructive initiatives in the days to come. Chief Minister of Karnali Province, Yamlal Kandel, said the development and prosperity are not just the concerns of people’s representatives and the employees, they are of collective concerns. As he said, the identity of Karnali as the ‘remote region’ should be changed considering its high potentials for resources and development.

“The role of media is significant in terms of development and prosperity of Karnali.” The news on the Khas language from the Radio Nepal shall me aired from 5:05 pm to 5:15 pm each day. With this, the number of languages for the Radio Nepal news has reached 26. Public Service Broadcasting Nepal’s Chair Dr Mahendra Bista said the new initiative aims to protect and promote the Khas language.