Community radio in Nepal examined by National Consultation

A national review of Nepalese community radio was conducted this month by UNESCO, the Ministry of Information and Communication, the Government of Nepal and the Association of Community Radio Broadcasters.

The Consultation was held as follow up to a recently completed study commissioned by UNESCO to review developments in the community radio sector in Nepal. The study confirmed that there are positive, even exceptional elements present in Nepal’s community radio environment, including excellent practices in programming, innovative strategies for sustainability and sophisticated examples of networking.

However, the lack of proper regulation, ambiguity in areas of ownership, participation and representation pointed to the need to work towards consolidation of a community radio policy and practices to maximize its benefit for social transformation.

Yubaraj Pandey, from the Ministry of Information and Communication, confirmed that the recommendations made by the consultation would be very useful to support the government in forming legislative and policy frameworks for the community radio in Nepal.

Raghu Panta, Member of the Parliamentary Committee on Environment, Communication and Technology, said that community radio in Nepal had enjoyed unlimited freedom and it was now time for the sector to form guidelines, ensure self regulation and be critical of its performance.

The consultation was attended by more than hundred organisations with particular interest in community radio in Nepal. These included representatives from all community radio stations in Nepal, Content Networks, Ministry of Information and Communication, Ministry of Finance as well as Donor Agencies.

Source: UNESCO

Tags: Community radio, Nepal, UNESCO

Category: Knowledge for Development