Journalism sector not happy with new budget

Kathmandu / May 29: The journalism sector has expressed dissatisfaction over the budget estimates that Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel presented at the parliament on Saturday, stating that it did not include any significant plans for the media sector.

In his comment over the budget estimates for the fiscal year 2016/17, President of Federation of Nepali Journalists Dr Mahendra Bista said journalists were not much encouraged by the new budget. Though the 50 per cent concession in government hospital fee is a welcome proposal, no effort has been made for the development of journalist and the journalism sector. “It was unfortunate that the senior journalist allowance, journalists’ insurance and the media academy were forgotten”, he said.

President of Press Chautari Nepal Ganesh Basnet said the rate of public welfare advertisements should have been increased and added that enforcement of the working journalist act, capacity building of Rastriya Samachar Samiti are issues to be raised.

It may be noted that the budget talks about the professional and organizational reforms of the state-owned Nepal Television, Radio Nepal and Gorkhapatra Corporation but nothing about RSS.

Press Union General Secretary Ajaya Babu Siwakoti said it was unfortunate that nothing has been included to encourage the media with small investment and promoting self-employment. It is the most disappointing budget so far as far as the the media sector is concerned, he said.

Former President of the Federation of Nepali Journalists Taranath Dahal expressed concern over the ignorance of the present budget to the decision taken earlier to transform Nepal Television and Radio Nepal into a public broadcasting institution. The government seems to be maintaining further control on the government media rather than giving them autonomy, Dahal said. RSS