Kathmandu, June 4 – The Mass Media Academy would be set up within next fiscal year, assured Minister for Communications and Information Technology Parbat Gurung. Briefing the media about the decisions of the Council of Ministers here on Friday, Minister Gurung shared that ‘Academy Development Committee Formation Directives-2078 BS’ has been sent to the Ministry of Finance for the establishment of the Academy.

According to him, there was a need for the Academy to further train, discipline and make the fourth state more responsible.Furthermore, he informed that procedures will be devised to activate the Journalists Welfare Fund and the postal offices throughout the country will issue the ‘Identity Card’ that had been earlier distributed by the Department of Information and Broadcasting.

Furthermore, the journalists obtaining the ID card from the Department of Information and Broadcasting could avail free medical treatment from designated health facilities from mid-July this year, the Minister informed. The government has also come up with a slogan ‘Communications for Prosperity’ in place of ‘Communications for Development.’ Minister Gurung shared that the government had allocated necessary budget for the communication sector and the Federation of Nepali Journalists had also welcomed it.

The meeting also decided to hold ‘Sagarmatha Sambad’ (Sagarmatha Dialogue) whenever the government deems appropriate for it. Decision also was made to sell off the land and house owned by the government of Nepal in Germany.

The government was working to make sure vaccination programme would be implemented fully before the election in upcoming November.The Minister also expressed his sorrow over the false accusation against President Bidya Devi Bhandari and urged one and all not to get engaged in such irresponsible act.(RSS):