Encouraging Report

FREE press is very young in Nepal. Only after the advent of multi-party democracy in 1990, free press witnessed rapid progress. Within 12 years of democracy, the number of broad-sheets has reached 11 from 2, not to mention the rise in the number of weeklies and tabloid dailies. Similar progress has been made in the sector of electronic media with the emergence of the increasing number of F. M. radio stations and television channels. In fact, the media, both electronic and print, have recorded tremendous progress. Film, a powerful media, has been flourishing well during these years. Despite a geometrical growth both in quality and quantity, Nepalese press is not free from crisis and controversies. A report presented the other day by the Task Force, constituted to suggest ways to develop the press, to Minister for Information and Communications and General Administration Ramesh Nath Pandey has suggested the possible remedies of the problems facing the Nepalese press as well as the Nepalese journalists.

It seems the report left no stone unturned while identifying the problems of the Nepalese press and recommending the necessary solutions. The report includes suggestions ranging from as to what sort of relation should exist between the state and the press to what role the government has to play to promote the press and to make it self-reliant together with what sort of advertisement policies are essential for the promotion of the press. Besides, the task force has recommended measures for a transparent and institutional investment for the ownership of the press, to establish Journalists' Welfare Fund and Journalism Development Fund for the development of mass media, build the capacity of journalists and to classify the newspapers at national, regional and town levels. In sum, the report is encouraging for the development of a fair press and capable journalists in the country. But, reports and recommendations alone are not sufficient to produce the desired results unless they are implemented effectively. In the past, too, such reports were prepared but most of them were limited only in paper not in deeds. However, this time the Nepalese press sector is hopeful that all the recommendations made by the Task Force will be implemented. Minister Pandey's assurance, while accepting the report, that the government is fully committed to implementing the suggestions has raised high hopes.

Local Development

VIOLENCE and conflicts not only disturb peace but also severely hamper development process in the country. That is the reason why every sector has now heaved a sigh of relief after the declaration of cease-fire between the government and the Maoists and the initiation of the peace process. Now violent activities have come to halt and the people have felt a new sense of peace and security.

People's hope for accelerated pace of development has been revived. With the improvement in the security situation in the country, the government has now placed greater focus on development activities. For this, the Ministry of Finance has recently decided to delegate special power to district level authorities to carry out development projects at the local level. The new decision has empowered district authorities comprising seven-member team headed by local development officer in each district to release the budget required for the implementation of development projects in the district concerned. This provision would definitely facilitate more for the local development activities as it has ended the earlier provision of seeking approval from the centre for the release of the necessary fund. The new decision is strictly in tune with the decentralised policy of His Majesty's Government. The government has adopted the policy of decentralisation and delegating authority to local level bodies in order to enhance the capability at the local level and also to institutionalise democracy at the grass roots level. Experiences have shown that any development projects imposed from the centre without properly assessing and identifying the needs at the local level would not yield desirable results and benefit the target groups. Only those projects, which are identified, designed, implemented and monitored at the local level with the active participation of local people can bear fruit to benefit the people. The concept of decentralisation is to enhance the capability of local people and mobilise them in designing and implementing development projects based on the local needs. At present, local bodies are without the elected representatives. Thus, it was absolutely necessary to devise and develop a new provision and mechanism to look into and carry out development projects at the local level in a more effective way. This new decision of the Finance Ministry aims at expediting the implementation of district level projects concerning roads, irrigation, drinking water, electricity and the like. Now, the development activities would definitely be revived with new vision and new concept based on the needs and demands of the local and targetted people. This also reflects the commitment of the government to the sustainable development at the grass roots level.