Kathmandu, May 23: Minister for Information and Communications Sherdhan Rai has reaffirmed that upcoming budget, due to be unveiled on May 28, will address the media sector in the country.

Minister Rai, receiving the ‘Attention Letter’ submitted by representatives of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) at his office in Singha Durbar here today, reiterated that the incumbent government was all set to introduce the budget aiming to address the issues of media and communication sector.

FNJ President Dr Mahendra Bista handed over the 11-point Attention Letter to Minister Rai, pressing for the demand of the journalists be met with the upcoming budget.

Minister Rai reassured the visiting team to implement the decision reviewed by the Council of Ministers to determine at Rs 19,500 as the minimum wage for the media persons.

Furthermore, the Attention Letter calls for the establishment of the Mass Media Museum and Mass Media Study Foundation and allocation of the budget for expansion of such establishments across all provinces.

Reward and punishment to the media houses as per the Working Journalists Acts and the like is also sought in the Attention Letter.

Demands in the Attention letter also include provisions in the budget for 50 per cent discount to the journalists for their treatment at both- private and government hospitals, technical regulating and promotion of the media among others.

Formation of the Autonomous National Media Commission and the establishment of Fund to honour senior and incapacitated journalists are also pressed for in the Attention Letter. RSS