Kathmandu. KATHMANDU: The meeting of the thematic committee related to the information and communications sector formed under Article 22 of the Federation, State and Local Level (Coordination and Interrelations) Act-2077 BS today took an important decision regarding restructuring the media sector in line with the federal structure.

The thematic committee chaired by Minister for Information and Communications Dr Bikram Timilsina took important decisions regarding the resolution of structural problems in the information and communications sector, amendment of outdated laws, development of digital system and service integration, among others.

In the meeting, Minister for Communications and Information Technology Timilsina said changes in existing legal structure were inevitable along with the changing technology. He stressed the need of mutual coordination, collaboration, learning sharing and open discussion among the three-tier government to speed up development construction works and smooth service delivery.

Stating that duplication among similar structures of three tiers of government should be reviewed ruthlessly, Minister Timilsina pointed out the need of reviewing the effectiveness of media houses, especially distribution of grants, advertisement system and media. Stressing on the need of making the welfare advertisement distribution system transparent, he said the question should be sought whether the resources collected from people’s tax were being used for the welfare of the citizens.

Similarly, the lack of clarity regarding rights and responsibilities and the tendency of one level not to accept the works carried out by one level has weakened coordination were raised in the meeting as service delivery was becoming complicated by the formation of separate structures for the same nature of works by the three tiers of government. Likewise, media registration and renewal, distribution of press passes for journalists, online media management, legal ambiguity in the broadcasting sector, film and telecommunication sector were the major issues raised in the meeting.

The meeting also decided to coordinate with the provinces as per the Radio Act, 2014 and Radio Communications (Licensing) Regulations, 2049 BS to systematize the management of radio machine license.

The meeting also decided to forward the process to amend the Press and Publication Act, 2049 BS to clear the confusion seen over the registration and renewal of online media. The meeting also decided to immediately initiate the process of amending the regulations to resolve the problems seen in the renewal process of online media registered as per the state law.

The meeting also decided to develop an integrated system to systematize the database and regulatory system of the media sector. As per the agreement, an integrated system of media would be developed in coordination with the Ministry of Communications, provinces, local levels and Press Council Nepal. It is expected to bring registration, renewal, monitoring and documentation of media organizations into a single system.

Likewise, reviving the postal service and transforming it into a government courier service was another important agenda of the meeting. The province and local governments have been urged to coordinate with the province and local levels for this as per the government’s plan of using postal service to deliver passports, driving licenses, SIM cards, educational certificates and other government documents to the people’s doorsteps.

The meeting also dwelt on the issue of preventing encroachment on the post office land and property and coordinating with the local levels to return the encroached property. Likewise, discussions were held on how all levels of government could ensure resources for the postal service diversification, modernization and digital transformation through policy and budget.

The meeting also decided to start preparations to implement the Model Directive prepared by the Advertising Board and the Model Act for the local level to remove the disparity seen in the management of the advertising sector. The goal is to make the advertisement system transparent, accountable and uniform through coordination among the three levels.

Likewise, the meeting has adopted a strategy to develop films, documentaries, photography and digital content production as industries. The aim is to make Nepal an international film shooting and creative destination for the international promotion of natural and cultural heritage. All levels of government have pledged to facilitate for this.

The meeting also decided to ensure the continuity of broadband service at the local level by making effective use of the Rural Telecommunication Development Fund in the telecommunications sector, to print the gazettes of the province and local governments as per the format adopted by the government and to encourage the production, publication and dissemination of news in the mother tongues recommended by the Language Commission.

Today’s meeting also decided to keep the control of fake information and responsible journalism in priority.

In the meeting, Minister for Internal Affairs and Law of Sudurpaschim Province, Hira Sunar, pointed out the need for the federal ministry to bring a clear umbrella law covering all the provinces to make the media sector systematic. Stating that shortage of employees was a serious problem in the province, he said the process for formulating the Mass Communications Bill was moving ahead at the province level. He said that there is a lack of clear policies on new challenges such as cybersecurity.

Similarly, Secretary at the Ministry of Information and Communications, Laxmi Kumari Basnet, underscored the need to put in place the ‘unbundling’ process to remove the dilemma seen among the rights of the three tiers. He said that the Ministry would carry out necessary coordination by holding further discussions with the state and local governments, adding that coordination was underway through the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers on some issues as well.

The meeting also decided to collect suggestions by sending the study report prepared by the task force to the umbrella organizations of the province and local levels. The meeting held at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology also endorsed the Working Procedure on thematic committee meetings and decisions-2083 BS and decided to regularly monitor the implementation of the decisions made by the committee.