2006 will be marked as a significant year in Nepal’s political history. This year, Nepal witnessed political upheavals and people’s profound unity for change. The year began with a gloom: King Gyanendra had declared Municipal polls for February eighth and almost all the mainstream political parties had already declared to boycott those polls. That created a situation of close confrontation between the Royal regime and political parties. King Gyanendra stuck to his stance on holding municipal polls, regardless of whatsoever participation of parties and people. And the seven parties agitating against King Gyanendra’s autocratic rule, decided to move head on against him; to boycott the polls at any cost and make them unsuccessful.

The decade long conflict ends after Prime Minister Koirala and Maoist Supremo sign the peace accord.

King Gyanendra’s ‘no setback’ stance brought both sides face to face. King Gyanendra deployed the army at every polling station and almost all parts of the cities and ‘held’ municipal polls almost under curfew order, even without permitting the press vehicles from plying the roads. And the popular movement rose from the very day of the municipal polls when Umesh Chandra Thapa, a local political leader was killed while protesting the municipal polls in Dang. To the next hand, contrary to King Gyanendra’s expectation to set up his ‘democratic image’ and legitimize his rule, the international community denied to approve the polls.

Millions of people come on the street to protest against King Gyanendra’s autocratic rule.

Seven political parties had already made an understanding with the rebels to form an alliance against King Gyanendra’s autocratic rule. The Maoists, which were fighting war against the establishment for a Communist system, had agreed to enter the peaceful mainstream, given that the polls for constituent Assembly will be held. With this understanding, the political parties succeeded on assuring people who were fed up with King Gyanendra’s despotic rule and the evils of twelve years of multiparty democracy that something good will come out. Thus the volume of participants in political programs began to multiply every day.

Girija Prasad Koirala addresses the House of Representatives after being appointed as Prime Minister.

Hitting the iron when it is hot, the political parties including Maoists declared a do or a die movement against King Gyanendra’s despotic rule. The movement began from April 6 and millions of people came on the street. Some experts even declared that it was the largest political uprising in the 21st century. Twenty one persons got martyrdom across the country and King Gyanendra was obliged to vow before people’s peaceful movement. He declared reinstatement of parliament as demanded by political parties at the midnight of April 24.

The reinstated House unanimously endorses the proposal to go for Constituent Assembly Polls tabled by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala

After the reinstatement of the parliament, Girija Prasad Koirala, as the leader of agitating seven parties, became country’s Prime Minister and a coalition government of seven parties was formed.

Another significant event in Nepalese history came on May 18 when the reinstated House declared itself as sovereign and cut all the rights and many state privileges of the King. The Monarchy became a lame duck, almost suspended unless its fate is determined by the constituent Assembly. Meanwhile, the peace process with the Maoists also moved ahead. The government and the Maoists sat for formal dialogues on May 26, giving new hopes to the people. Both the sides sign a 25 point code of conduct and agree to further the peace process.

Maoist Supremo Prachanda appears public for the first time in 24 years ever after he went underground in 1984

The other significant event happened on June 18. Summit level talks among the top leaders of seven political parties and the Maoists begin. Maoist Supremo Prachanda appears public first time ever in the 23 years after he went underground in 1984. This incident assured people that the Maoists are really willing to enter the peaceful mainstream. The parties agreed to promulgate interim constitution, form interim government, invite the United Nations to facilitate Maoists’ arms management and hold Constituent Assembly Polls by Mid July 2007.

However, Nepal’s peace process still remained indefinite as the scheduled tasks as mentioned above could not be held in agreed period. The prolonged peace process, though it was for many technical reasons, made people impatient and some uprisings against the government were witnessed during this period. Despite a few events of breach in code of conduct, Nepal’s peace process is meant to have moved smoothly so far.

Both sides are engaged in talks since the last eight months. (Pic: IDK/Everest Uncensored)

Nepal’s ten years long conflict which claimed more than 13,000 lives and left thousands of people homeless, comes to a formal end on November 21. Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and Maoist Supremo Prachanda sign a peace accord that formally ends the ear. The Maoists agree to send their army to the cantonment. Meanwhile, series of talks; many in summit level were held and the parties succeeded on signing on the interim constitution on December 16.

Fishing in troubled water and Prolonged Transition
Nevertheless, Nepal is facing a hard time. Countries in transition are always in crisis. They are vulnerable to the chaos and disorder. If the leadership fails to rightly address the situation, the crisis may engulf the whole country. Certain reactionary forces are trying to fish in the troubled water. Trying to fish in troubled water, some communal forces have tried to break the communal harmony prevailing here. This week’s incidents in South western city of Nepalgunj and series of lootings in the eastern Terai are intended to break the communal harmony.

To the next hand, the reactionary forces are also trying to find space in the transitional environment. Series of gatherings by one of the pro Royalist Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal, in the last two weeks are intended towards garnering support to the King.

The civil Society kept up its role as a wathcdog against any activities of either side that may create impediment in the peace process (Pic: IDK/Everest Uncensored)

Whatsoever, the largest impediment in Nepal’s peace process have become the arms with the Maoists. It has impeded the Maoists entry in the interim government, creating an opposing situation between the seven parties and the Maoists. It has also delayed the promulgation of interim constitution. This will ultimately affect on the Constituent Assembly polls declared for July next year. This will further prolong the transition, making country vulnerable to more crises. Thus, unless the arms with the Maoists are managed, Nepal’s peace process still seems to face crisis at some point. However, there are silver linings in the cloud. People haven’t yet lost the hopes and so do the political parties.

The New Year 2007 will be fruitful in real sense to the Nepalese people in the political parties work closely and succeed on holding the constituent Assembly polls on declared dates.

1.      How Nepali Media are growing violent culture.

2.      How they use the ready made news given by the international news agencies.

3.      Why Iraqi violence has so much dominated the international news content in Nepali media.

4.      Recommend the measures to minimize coverage of violence, particularly, remotely located.

5.      Recommend the measures to minimize the negative effect of the violence.

Why has the Iraqi violence dominated the news content in Nepali media? Is it just because that international super powers e.g. the US and the UK are involved in the war? Does it mean that we have got to follow what the international media opt for? What efforts are made towards minimizing the negative effects of violence on audiences? Can the media stay dumb, ignoring the negative impact on audiences? Following the outstanding coverage of Iraqi violence by Nepali media, such crucial questions have been raised. This has to be immediately addressed to promote the accountability of the media towards its audience and social responsibility.  

          Kunczik (1994) sates that the coverage of violence, especially politically motivated violence which has usually the presence of media or expected reporting may also incite violence. Many scholars agree that the consumption of violence news also makes people violent. Especially, the films that have horror and violence on its context have come to an attack by the social scientists that they may also affect the children; make them violent in their behaviors. Sometimes there are reports of killing of the friend by a school boy, mainly in western countries. Probably, that mentality is also attributed to the violent media presentation. And, surely, as the best consumed, news can’t be an exception. Last year there were reports in India that a girl child was killed while imitating a media action. When the Indian media dramatically showed the execution of a criminal Dhananjaya Chatarjee by hanging, the girl also imitated that cost her life. Even in Nepal, seeing the play of weapons at their courtyard during ten years of violent conflict, children imitated them to their game.

College of Journalism and Mass Communication,
          Dept. of Mass communication and Journalism,
Purwanchal University,
Recommendation
This is to Certify that the Project Work
Submitted by,
Mr. Indra Dhoj Kshetri,
Symbol Number: 121037
Entitled,
"A Media Profile on Vijaya Information and Communication Cooperatives, Vijaya Community Radio 101.6, Gaindakot-5, Nawalparasi" has been prepared as approved by this department.        
This project work report is forwarded for examination.

A Media Profile on Vijaya Information and Communication Cooperatives, Vijaya Community Radio 101.6, Gaindakot-5, Nawalparasi
Contents                                                                                Pages
Chapter 1. Introduction                                                         
Chapter 2. Background
Chapter 3. Goals 
      I.      Short term Goals
  II.      Long term Goals
Chapter 4. Organizational Structure
Chapter 5. Work Force analysis
Chapter 6. Principles, Rules and Regulations
Chapter 7. Financial Status
i.                   Source of Income
ii.                Ways of Expenditure
Chapter 8. Opportunities and Threats
Chapter 9. Programs and Performance
Chapter 10. Future Direction/ Conclusion
Chapter 11. Reference
12. Appendix

Chapter One: Introduction
Gaindakot, a small municipal oriented town is located at the eastern belt of Nawalparasi district. Situated at the lap of perennial Narayani River, it is also bordering with the bigger city of Narayangarh in Chitwan District and also some rural parts of Tanahun district.  Nearly, a ten thousand people inhabit the town; most of them hill immigrants and a few locals of Tharu origin. It is nearly 150 km southwest from the Kathmandu and linked by highway with the capital. The Main artery of

passes through the town.    
It has the variety of the people of various caste, creed and origin. If we look at the whole district, it has the variety of population comprised of Hill immigrants to indigenous Tharu community people. This population is comprised of the multiple ethnicities of Brahmin, Chhetri, Magar, Tharu, Kami, Damai, Musahar, Newar and Sarki. Among them speak various languages i.e. Nepali, Tharu, Newari, Maithili and Magar. They also follow various religions i.e. Hindu, Buddhism and Muslim. The same variety is also found in its surrounding districts of Chitwan, Rupandehi, and Tanahun.
The town of Gaindakot has one Higher Secondary School, another public High school and four private High Schools and many other private and public schools. The number of those schools shows that the literacy rate is higher. As per the consensus in 2058 BS, it has the Literacy of 78%. Besides, the nearby town of Narayangarh and Bharatpur have multiple opportunities of higher education and other economic activities.  Main occupation of the people here is agriculture and since the Narayangarh city is nearby, most of them grow cash crops. Thus Gaindakot VDC has declared itself as an ideal VDC and is claiming to grow into a municipality.  However, mainstreaming the indigenous Tharu community people remains as the big challenge here.
As mentioned above, the literacy here is high which has positively contributed for the development of the area. The well educated people were committed to uplift the lifestyle of the locality people through social mobilization. Hence, they felt only the access of the community on information can comply with their objective.  As the community Radios and local radios in FM technology were positively contributing for the development of their respective communities, a group of innovative youths felt the need of a Radio station in the town as well. They also felt that only community Radio can contribute best to uplift the lifestyle of their target audience or their milieu. Hence they set up Vijay Information and Communication Cooperatives in the year 2000. The aim of this organization was "to provide easier access of information and communication to the rural community especially excluded people who have less or no any access over it (Concept Paper 2003:1)." It has a hundred share members among which larger part is owned by the local community groups and cooperatives.  (Chhetri, 2005:2)
With the continuous efforts and tireless fight with the sluggish and corrupt bureaucracy of Nepal, finally their dream was materialized when Vijaya Community Radio transmitted its waves over the FM band of 101.6 MHz in 21^st august 2004. 
The Radio can be heard by the people of Nawalparasi, Chitwan, Tanahun, Makwanpur and Rupandehi districts.  It has been serving around 1.5 million populations of those districts. Besides, its signals are heard over the area from Terai to inner Terai and to hills, thus covering the larger caste and tribal variety (Chhetri, 2005:2).
The possible castes to be served by this radio are ‘Kami, Damai, Nepali, Gurung, Tharu, Magar, Musahar, Brahmin and Chhetri etc (Luintel and Acharya, 2061 BS: 146).
Chapter Two: Background
Vijay Development Resources centre (VDRC-Nepal) has become a role model for the social service organizations in the whole district of Nawalparasi as well as in the entire nation.  Vijay Development Resources centre has long been serving the locale as well as other parts of the country since 1989. 
It has been promoting the community based social organizations i.e. Vijay Community Education Cooperatives Limited, Viccu Savings and credit cooperatives Limited etc. Meanwhile, VDRC-Nepal also felt the need of a community radio station to empower the local communities to lead them to the self dependence. Hence, Vijaya Information and Communication cooperative was promoted under its leadership with the participation of local social service organizations, community forests, religious organizations, journalists, littérateurs, social workers, farmers and laborers and other people from various walks of life (Year Planner 2005). It was set up in 2000 in Gaindakot. Vijaya information and communication  co-operative had its one of the objectives of operating  an FM radio  station "to provide easier access of  information and  communication to the rural  community  especially excluded  people  who  have less or no access over it ‘’ (Concept paper 2005:1).
Immediately it applied for the operating license for an FM Radio station. However, to the plight of the Nepalese corrupt bureaucracy and political leadership, the permission was denied with this or that excuse. The main cause was its denial to give the under table money (Sapkota: 2005). Finally, their untiring efforts were recognized and given the operating license in the year 2004 to be transmitted over the FM band of 101.6 MHz. Without any delay, it began the transmission from 21^st August 2004.

Chapter Three: Goals
       I.      Short Term Goals
The primary motive of the Community Radios is to give access on information and communication for the community people and thus empowering them by giving access to their voices.  Community Radios are spread around the countries dedicated to give access to their respective community people on information and communication. They intend to present the programs as per the needs of their respective communities (Chhetri, 2005:1).
Certainly, as a community Radio, Vijay Community Radio also has the primary goal to empower the local communities it has been serving. The radio is focused on uplifting the living standard of the community people. Community radios aim at enabling communities by giving access to the community people who are deprived of the access to information and communication or they have the access but they don’t represent their interests. (Chhetri, 2005:3)
However, at the short course, it aims at giving access of information to the people who have less or no access over it. Besides, not only imposing the information, it aims at giving access to the voices of the people. It aims at establishing dual communication system where people can express their plights without any fear. It also aims at disseminating necessary information for the people to improve and empower their professional competence. It transmits only such programs which positively help the community people on cultivating the democratic norms and values and the feeling of equality among all the people. It gives importance to the issues of public concern and mobilizes local resources, materials and aptitudes. It aims at mainstreaming the so called untouchable castes, ethnic castes, women and other minority communities by giving special attention and access to their voices and concerns.
We can enumerate some of those short term objectives as following: 
1.      To provide the true and factual information to the community to make them informed, aware, organized and active for their empowerment. 
2.      To exhibit the voices of and posture up of Dalits, Tribal, women, disabled, poor and deprived communities.
3.      To promote, develop and conserve the local art, culture and good tradition.
4.      To disseminate the information for the promotion and development of agriculture and livestock.
5.      Develop the dual communication system where people can without any fear and hesitation give feedback, hence their voices given access.
6.      To provide a forum for social discourse. 

   II.      Long Term Goals
Nepalese society has various evil customs and practices e.g. superstition, untouchability, dowry and various discriminations e.g. between the sons and the daughters. Since nearly forty per cent people are illiterate and many people with the traditional and conservative beliefs, such customs are being cultivated and promoted by them.  Hence, to alleviate such wrong practices, singular and short term efforts will not suffice. It needs campaigns and long term efforts with the clear visions.
Vijay Community radio also, in its due course, tends to help the society on making a place best to live in.  It has the long term objectives to promote minority languages, culture, language and religion which are proved to be the pride of the Nepalese as Unity in Diversity. It is committed on promoting the diversity and uniting all the diverse caste, creed, language and religious people to the single garland by developing the feeling of tolerance among them.
We can enumerate some of those long term objectives as following: 
1.      To mitigate bad customs, discrimination and superstitions prevailing in the community.
2.      To alleviate the bad habits prevailing in the society or being cultivated owing to various influences.
3.      To increase the habits of savings to form a dedicated and laborious society. 
4.      To develop the feeling of self help in the society.
5.      To create the conducive environment at the community level where democratic values and norms are practiced at their best form.
6.     To initiate youths to be free from the evils i.e. addictions and giving in to the bad habits. And to inspire them to pursue the higher education.

Chapter Four: Organizational Structure
The General Assembly is the apex body of the Station.  It exercises all the policy making powers. It has the provision that the General Assembly meets at least once a year.  It chooses a seven member Board of Governors and a three member Account Committee every two years. The Board of governors works on behalf of the General Assembly. It formulates policies and presents them to the assembly. Preparing the budget for the new fiscal years and presenting it to the General Assembly for discussion are its other functions.  It can spend the money only as provided by the general assembly. It guides all the subordinate committees, especially, Station Manager, who is the executive chief of the station, has to work under its direct guidelines.
The Account Committee shall be responsible on managing the monetary resources needed for the operation of the station and to pay for the staffs. It identifies the new sources of income and makes policies so as how to utilize those resources. It holds discussions with the station manager and other sub committees to decide the Resource Management and to guarantee optimum utilization of the available resources.
The Radio Management committee will assist the General Assembly on formulating policies. The General Assembly will form other sub committees as needed from time to time to study about or work under the particular situation. 
Station Manager is the executive chief of the station. He manages all day to day works and, in close sitting with the subordinate workers manages all the transmissions for the day. He decides all the problems encountered during day to day work. He reports the problems to the Board of Governors about the complex matters. He listens to complains from the listeners, advertisers, agencies and administration and manages public relations. Below him, there shall be three types of workers i.e. Management, Account/ Administration and Programming. Marketing manager looks after the marketing affairs. Subordinate Marketing assistants shall assist him. The Account and Administration Assistant will manage all the daily administrative activities.  He, as guided by the station Manager, will be entirely responsible for paying the monthly salaries to the staffs, paying various rents, fees and charges. One Peon and a security guard will assist him on handling daily works. 
The Program Manager will look after the production and presentation of the programs. He will work with his colleagues and report to the station manager. He will be assisted by a senior program producer/ presenter. Below him will be three faculties i.e. technical, program production and program presentation. The technician will be assisted by an Assistant Technician, program producer by assistant program producer and program presenter by assistant program producers. The number of the technicians, program producers, presenters and their assistants shall vary as per the need of the time.

Chapter Five: Programs
Currently, Vijay Community Radio is operating its transmission for 14 hours on six days of a week and 17 hours on Saturday. It has the variety of programs. The various programs can be segmented in to News oriented, informative/ educational and entertaining. However, as a hybrid form, other types of programs, which can rightly be called infotainment, are in considerable number.
5.I News Oriented Programs
Everyday, Vijaya Community Radio has allocated 2 hrs 50 minutes for purely news oriented programs. For more than half of the time, it transmits the self produced news bulletins on the headlines of Ghatanachakra and Vijaya Khabar. Ghatanachakra is the top priority news bulletin. It is broadcast twice a day for half an hour each. Since it includes hard news, features, interviews and voice pieces, it seems like a Radio magazine. However the producers are not sure whether it’s a news bulletin or a Radio magazine. It has purely news bulletins of 10 to 15 minutes under the headline Vijaya Khabar (meaning Vijaya news).
Besides, it uses the signals of the other stations too. Early in the morning at 6.00, using the signals of Radio Sagarmatha in Kathmandu, it broadcasts Patrapatrikako Sangalo (meaning the collection of newspapers) for half an hour. It has also been broadcasting the news bulletin of Radio Nepal at 7.00 in the morning and evening every day. Hence, purely news oriented programs have the share of more than 20% share on the total air time. Besides, Bishwa Darpan (meaning: world mirror), broadcast every Sunday morning for 15 minutes is also a purely news oriented program.

5.II Informative/ Educational programs:
Another category of the programs can be taken as informative or educational programs. Since, it is a community Radio; Vijaya Community Radio owes greater responsibility to the society. Hence, it has to emphasis on the social inclusion and betterment of the society. The programs like Samata and Sangati sandesh are important to loud the voice of minorities in the society. There are the programs so as to decrease the traditional gender, caste, language and religious discriminations. There are the programs on agriculture, art and culture, history, education and other genuine aspects of the society. It has also allocated a considerable time to promote the literature too. Such program share nearly 30% of the total airtime.
 5.III Entertainment/ infotainment
As mentioned above, a hybrid form of programs called infotainment i.e. comprised of information and entertainment, are in considerable number. Those programs are targeted generally to the young listeners. These types of programs share nearly the half of the total airtime. Those programs contain only the information related to the field of information and sometimes the "believe it or not" type informations to catch the listeners throughout the program. These types of programs do not so much support the declared objective of the station. However, they play greater role on catching the listeners and ensuring that the station is tuned in.

Chapter Six: Work Force analysis
The Station currently has 31 staffs working in. As the principle of community radios, Vijay Community Radio also has tried to employ the people from various facets of the society. According to Chhetri (2005) Almost all the community Radios in the country are dedicated towards mitigating untouchability and racial, gender and caste discriminations. Hence, they have to guarantee optimum representation from such minority classes. Here, the workforce of Vijay Community Radio shall be analyzed on the basis of gender, minorities and types of employment (Types of work and working hours).
       I.      Workforce Analysis on gender basis
It’s positive that the number of women employed by the station outscores the number of the men. Among 31 staffs, 17 are female. Mainly, they are employed in program production and presentation. The staffs are portrayed as below in the gender lens.