Kathmandu : The Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) is launching on trial the news service in Maithili and Nepal Bhasa languages later this evening.
The two languages are new additions to the RSS news service as part its diversification campaign. The inclusion of the languages reflects the inclusion underlined by the constitution. The Abadhi language is already in use for eight months at RSS.
“All state organs need to be inclusive as envisioned by the constitution. The use of mother tongue in RSS news service is also the enforcement of citizens’ right to information,” RSS Executive Chairman Dharmendra Jha said, adding that the RTI Act has stated that every citizen should have access to public information in an understandable format.
RSS decided to launch the news service in Maithili and Nepal Bhasa languages after two year’s research and study. The new facility would be provided free of cost to its subscribers. Maithili is the second most spoken language in Nepal. RSS got government support through the annual budget for the introduction of Abadhi, Maithali and Nepal Bhasa languages, Chairman Jha reminded, adding, “RSS tries its best to prove the meaning and relevance of these additions. For the sustainability of the endeavour, RSS is planning an establishment of mother language news fund.
Moreover, RSS Deputy General Manager Raju Shakya viewed RSS would provide service in mother languages so that the media running in mother languages would be highly benefitted. He also reminded that the Kathmandu and Lalitpur metropolises had also launched curriculum in Nepal Bhasa, recognizing student’s human rights. Shakya, who conducted a study for the introduction of Nepal Bhasa at RSS, further shared that the media which are not able to pay their reporters for financial crunch would be benefitted with RSS new initiative.
RSS had made such endeavour long back- 2074BS, but it realized the fruition now. Deputy General Manager Shakya also reminded the State’s responsibility to protect and promote all languages in the country as underscored by the constitution.
“It is a bold and concrete move RSS management and entire RSS family took to launch news diversification. It will be further strengthened,” Shakya added.
The Nepal Bhasa and Maithili news bulletins would however be published from central office, Kathmandu. Similarly, another Deputy General Manager Shyam Rimal observed journalism is an effective medium to protect languages, so RSS forwarded this scheme. “RSS news in various languages is disseminated to numerous media, which will contribute to protection of language and journalism in mother tongue,” he said adding that RSS should adopt a policy to expand the present drive, for which the State’s support with budget is imperative.
Rimal further opined the State-run media are disseminating news in various languages. If it is managed via RSS in an integrated way, it would be economical as well. He also hoped the media which were closed due to financial crisis could be resumed after the news diversification scheme of RSS.
The constitution of Nepal, 2015 has finely mentioned that all national languages should be treated equally. It has made the State responsible to protect and promote these languages. Language is indeed an integral part of a nation’s civilization.
It is said there are some 7,000 languages in the world. There are 124 mother tongues in Nepal. Experts suggest campaign to keep alive the languages that have kept human identity intact.
The RSS has been working continuously for its service diversification. Currently, it provides news, feature, commentary and opinion in Nepal and English languages while photo, and video services are other regular services. The Abadhi language was introduced at RSS news service since the beginning of the year, 2024.
Moreover, the RSS, which had been disseminating news for 17 hours a day, extended 7 more hours to run the service round-the-clock since September 2. Even a news museum was inaugurated at RSS by Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung on August 16.
