International Conference of mother tongue journalists concludes, issuing seven point Kathmandu declaration

Kathmandu. The two-day International Mother Tongue Journalists Conference 2082 organized in has been  concluded with issuing 7 points resolution. The conference has organized by the Newa National Journalists’ Association collaboration with SAARC Journalist Forum and Federation of Nepal Indigenous Journalists (FONIJ).Speaker Devraj Ghimire inaugurated the conference at 13 June and the conference was concluded by Madhyapur Thimi Municipality Mayor Surendra Shrestha at 14 June. Speaking at the closing ceremony, Mayor Shrestha said that the conference played an important role in promoting the mother tongue.In the closing ceremony chaired by Nripendra Lal Shrestha, President of SAARC Journalist Forum Raju Lama urge all stakeholders to take the resolution seriously to be implemented. He also call on all governments of SAARC region to support to organise mother tongue journalist conference.FONIJ President Lucky Chaudhary, Secretary General of SJF Md Abdur Rahman representing Bangladesh, President of SJF Bihar Chapter Shashi Bhushan Kumar from India, conference coordinator Sunil Maharjan, Secretary General of NFNJ K.K. Manandhar, expressed their views on the importance of the mother tongue and the inevitability of its protection.The declaration includes issues such as handing over the declaration issued by the conference to the heads of SAARC countries demanding the necessary budget from the government for capacity building of mother tongue journalists and promotion of mother tongue media houses, and raising awareness about mother tongue journalism through regular discussions with stakeholders.