 |
Kathmandu Tuesday February 19, 2002 Falgun 07, 2058.
|
‘Right
to Information Bill to be passed this session’
Post Report
KATHMANDU, Feb 18:
Minister for Information and Communication Jayaprakash Prasad Gupta today said that the
Right to Information Bill is likely to be passed in the ongoing 21st session of the
Parliament.
Gupta also said that
his Ministry is set to introduce amendments in the existing Press and Publication Act,
1991 along with Media Policy, 1991.
"The Right to
Information Bill has been sent to Ministry for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs for
final approval," said Gupta, while addressing a function organised by the Press
Council to review the existing media policy.
The much-awaited Bill
prepared two years ago had been delayed to send to the Parliament due to the
government’s reluctance. The Bill will guarantee the press to acquire information it
seeks from the government once it turns into an act.
"The amendment in
the Press and Publication Act will regulate newspapers and will address problems like
media ownership and foreign investment," Gupta said.
"The amendment
will also accord more facilities to frequency modulations," Gupta said.
"Satellite transmissions and cable televisions will also be regulated."
Gupta also informed the
gathering that the Ministry has prepared a draft of a 20-year media policy and is in the
final stage.
President of the
Federation of Nepalese Journalists Suresh Acharya underlined the need to review the
existing media policy, as it has failed to address the problems cropped up in the press
sector.
Narahari Acharya, who
headed the team to prepare the draft of the existing media policy, said that it was
already late to review the policy. "Now there should not be any restrictions on
information flow, as it is the time of self-decision by media," Acharya said.
Prime Minister’s
press advisor Achyut Wagle said that the government has arrested only those journalists
affiliated to the Maoists.
Chairman of the Press
Council Harihar Birahi said the Council has taken initiatives to review the existing
policy as it could not cope the problems of swiftly emerging media industry in the
country.
Other Stories
|
