The Upatyaka Province Committee of the Federation of Indigenous Journalists of Nepal (FONIJ) organized the 'FONIJ Dialogue' on Wednesday with the slogan 'Basis of Prosperity: Fully Inclusive Communication'.
What you should know
Stakeholders have said that implementing mother tongue in government work is still a challenge.
The Upatyaka Province Committee of the Federation of Indigenous Journalists of Nepal (FONIJ) organized the 'FONIJ Dialogue' on Wednesday with the slogan 'The Basis of Prosperity: Fully Inclusive Communication'. The dialogue discussed the implementation, problems and challenges of Nepali and Tamang languages being used as working languages by the Bagmati Province government.
During the discussion, Chairman of the Indigenous Journalists Commission, Ram Bahadur Thapa Magar, said that additional arrangements should be made as the budget allocated for the protection and promotion of the mother tongue is insufficient.
'Budget is allocated by making policies and programs, stakeholders should pay more attention to work than words,' he said. He informed that the recommendations have been sent to the government to address the demands made in favor of the indigenous people.
General Secretary of the Federation of Indigenous Journalists of Nepal, Divas Rai, mentioned that an important aspect of federal implementation has been implemented as per the provisions of the constitution, namely the protection of the mother tongue and its use in government work. He stressed that both the state and the government should pay attention to the protection and practical implementation of the language, culture and script of the indigenous people.
Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Bagmati Province Pawan Kumar Pokharel said that due to the unstable government, it is difficult to make laws, rules and implement budgets and policy programs. He said that although budget has been allocated for linguistic training and development of literature, it has not been spent as stakeholders have not come to demand the budget.
Acting Secretary of the Language Commission Dr. Lok Bahadur Lopchan informed that Bagmati Province has facilitated government work by hiring language trainers in Newari and Tamang languages and hiring translators.
Central President of Phoenicia Lucky Chaudhary stressed that the number of people speaking the language should increase to preserve the linguistic heritage and mother tongue.
President of the Upatyaka Province Committee of Phoenicia Prashant Mali stressed that the government should increase the access of the weaker sections and those who have not reached the state policy level and bring them into the mainstream of the state by making proper policy arrangements and budget management.
