PM pledges 'special retirement package' for journos

By Vidhyapati Mishra

Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai Saturday said the government would soon introduce a special retirement package for journalists, who are continuously in the profession for 25 years.

Terming it as "special package", the PM expressed hope that several journalists would benefit from it.

PM Bhattarai made the pledge while speaking at a programme organised to mark the 43rd anniversary of Nepal Press Council at Media Village, Kathmandu. On the occasion, PM Bhattarai also released a book titled 'History of Nepal Press Council' authored by Binod Dhungel, the Nepal Correspondent of Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

Assuring that the current government would refrain from imposing censor or suppress the media industry, PM Bhattarai added, "However, I must not hesitate to mention here that the media should be responsible towards the state."

Mentioning that social media have reached a significant portion of the Nepalese population, he also made it a point to urge the users of all social media to be responsible about the contents put on the net.

"Ina way every social media user is a journalist. So every user must act responsibly as far as the contents are concerned," PM Bhattarai added.

Addressing the same programme, Minister for Communications and Information Raj Kishore Yadav said that the Ministry had been preparing to offer at least 30 academic scholarships on annual basis for working journalists. He said priority would be given to those from remote areas.

Likewise, Chief Secretary, Lila Mani Poudel, alerted media houses and journalists to be more responsible towards the nation. He also requested journalists to stop blackmailing and bargaining in the name of professional rights.

At the anniversary function, the Press Council honoured nine journalists and two media houses for their contribution to the media sector. nepalnews.com