Freedom Of Press
PRIME Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba inaugurated a
three-day national seminar on "Media Freedom in Nepal" organised by Nepal
Chapter of the International Press Institute (IPI) in Kathmandu the other day. Addressing
the inaugural ceremony Prime Minister Deuba assured that His Majesty’s Government
would do every thing possible for the professional and institutional development of
Nepalese press. Prime Minister Deuba also expressed his commitment to enact Right to
Information Bill which Journalists have long been demanding. The Constitution of the
Kingdom of Nepal has accepted right to information as one of the fundamental rights of the
people. However, people have not been able to enjoy this right in the absence of necessary
laws. Although the history of Nepalese press is relatively young, it has been growing
slowly but steadily in the recent years. There has been significant development of
Nepalese press both in terms of quality and quantity in the last ten years, especially
after the restoration of multiparty democracy. The press has, indeed, gained maturity and
become more professional over the last couple of years. Nevertheless, Nepalese press is
still not free from problems and constraints. Media persons have often raised the issues
concerning the press. One of the problems being faced by the Nepalese media persons is
access to information. Once the law concerning the right to information is enacted, this
problem would be solved to a certain extent. The government has expressed its commitment
for solving the problems faced by journalists and also to helping the media. Free and
responsible press is the vanguard of democracy without which democracy cannot sustain. In
the same way, free press cannot materialise in the absence of democracy and pluralist
society. It acts as a bridge between the government and the people. It is the press that
keeps its watchful eye on the government activities and points finger at the shortcomings
and weakness through which the government gets feedback of its activities and performance.
This is the age of information and only those people who are informed and educated can
make proper choice and decision and contribute to the development of the country. Free and
responsible press creates informed and educated people. Thus, the role of press is not
only to inform the people but also educate them and build public opinion on certain
national issues. Thus, there is a need of partnership between the government and the press
for the consolidation of democracy and social and economic development of the nation.
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