Communications Minister stresses on reviving Radio Nepal’s past glory

Kathmandu : Communications and Information Technology Minister, Parbat Gurung has laid emphasis on carrying out works to revive the Radio Nepal to its former glory.

Minister Gurung was addressing the programme organized by the Radio Broadcasting Service Development Committee (Radio Nepal) here today to distribute the long service medals to Radio Nepal employees.

On the occasion, he called upon all the sides concerned to propel the institution ahead in a competitive manner.
Also the government spokesperson, Minister Gurung shared that consultations were on regarding moving ahead Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS), Radio Nepal, Nepal Television and Gorakhapatra Corporation in an effective and efficient way. He urged the Radio Nepal family to identify the positive aspects and analyze the weaknesses.

Radio Broadcasting Service Development Committee Chair and Ministry’s Secretary, Hari Prasad Basyal said that Radio Nepal has reached the homes of the people carrying with it the message of ‘unity in diversity’ and urged the Radio Nepal’s employees to give better service to the nation than the private sector in a way the people can feel it.

“We have the goal of taking the radio service to the homes of 92 per cent Nepalis in the current fiscal year by improving the technology. Training programmes have also been started in this connection. The bill on Public Service Broadcasting has been registered in the parliament for the merger of Radio Nepal and Nepal television. Works would be carried out without affecting the career development of the employees of both institutions,” Secretary Basyal said.

He also informed on the occasion that the Ministry has kept in priority the works of reaching radio service throughout the length and breadth of the country and expanding Nepal Television’s services to international level.

According to him, the Ministry is currently working on a plan enabling all the four state-run media to deliver more service with fewer human resources.

Radio Nepal’s executive director Buddhi Bahadur KC said that Radio Nepal’s service has reached to 87 per cent of the country’s population at present. Radio Nepal currently has 23 Frequency Modulation (FM) and six Medium Wave stations. It has been broadcasting news in 21 languages and programmes in 20 languages.

KC opined that they could not expand the programmes and services as doing so would entail more expenditure.
He informed that Radio Nepal was constructing the Tarini Prasad Koirala Memorial Media Village in Biratnagar of Province no 1.

The ‘long service medal’, which should have been distributed in April on the occasion of the 70th Founding Day of Radio Nepal, could not be distributed that time due to the coronavirus pandemic and have been presented by organizing the programme today.

Nineteen employees, including 15 working at the Radio Nepal’s Central Office Singha Durbar and four working in offices outside Kathmandu, have received the Long Service Medal and Letter of Appreciation for completing 25 years of service.
It is said 43 of Radio Nepal employees were affected by coronavirus pandemic.