Proposal seeking consideration on Media Council Bill approved

Kathmandu: The National Assembly meeting has unanimously approved the proposal seeking consideration on the ‘Media Council Bill, 2080′.

Minister for Communications and Information Technology Rekha Sharma presented the proposal in the meeting on Sunday. Lawmakers Devendra Dahal, Madan Kumari Saha Garima, and Tulasa Kumari Dahal put forth their views on the bills. Responding to lawmakers’ views on the bill, Minister Sharma informed that it had also incorporated the new media. Inclusion, women and provincial participation were also underlined in it. She also reminded that the Media Council Bill was approved by the National Assembly in the past, which was, however, rendered irrelevant later.

According to Minister Sharma, while preparing the new bill, adequate discussions and consultations were held by forming experts’ groups and it was revised as compared to the previous draft. She believed that lawmakers could contribute to the bill by providing creative feedback. The bill would be a significant progress to implement the Mass Communication Policy as well. The Issues as documentation of journalists, professional safety of journalists, freedom of expression and self-regulation were paid attention in the bill.

Meanwhile, Chairperson of Legislation Management Committee, Jayanti Devi Rai, presented the report of the committee on safe transaction (first amendment), 2080. The National Assembly will meet next on Monday.

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