Former President Bhandari Stresses Need for Special Programs for Dalit Journalists

Kathmandu. Former President Bidya Devi Bhandari has said that the government needs to bring special programs to enhance the capacity of Dalit journalists, encourage investigative journalism, and ensure their physical and mental security. She pointed out this need while speaking at a special program organized by the National Dalit Journalists Association, Nepal, in Kathmandu on Monday.

Former President Bhandari urged media houses and related bodies to strictly enforce inclusive policies internally regarding Dalit journalists. She emphasized that the issues of Dalits should not be confined to the concerns of a single community but should be prioritized by the media as a common concern and national issue of the entire nation.

Her statement was that if the state, civil society, and media entrepreneurs are to make the media truly democratic and impartial, it is necessary to strictly enforce inclusive policies internally. Addressing the ceremony, former President Bhandari said, 'I want to urge all bodies of the state, civil society, and especially media operators – if the media is to be made truly democratic and impartial, inclusive policies must be strictly implemented internally.'

She clarified that the Nepal government and media-related organizations should pay special attention to the capacity development of Dalit journalists and guarantee their security in the workplace, adding, 'The issues of Dalits should not be just the concerns of a single community but should be prioritized by the media as a common concern and national issue of the entire nation. Special programs need to be brought by the Nepal government and news-related organizations to enhance the capacity of Dalit journalists, encourage investigative journalism, and ensure their physical and mental security in the workplace.'

Furthermore, former President Bhandari mentioned that the pen of journalists is very powerful in the progress and transformation of any society. She argued that the journalism world should guide society in the right direction, and therefore, journalists should not engage in any activities that misuse their pen and should always remain within professional ethics.