Peace building through radio network in Nepal: UNCT

NEPAL: The United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in Nepal on Thursday celebrated its first anniversary of broadcasting "Radio Chautari", an initiative to communicate directly with the Nepali people.

Radio Chautari works closely with all 22 UN agencies in Nepal to develop its broadcasts and uses a mixture of presentation formats including drama, vox pop, interviews and discussions to communicate and interact with listeners.

The UNCT considers providing reliable information to the general public on issues of Nepal's peace and development, particularly to those from traditionally marginalized communities and the information-poor, vital for helping build understanding and trust.

Radio Chautari was launched in April 2009 to cover key issues of peace and development, the radio program is trying to help Nepali society transform itself into a more inclusive and just society, a release issued by UN information center in Kathmandu said.

The team behind Radio Chautari travels to locations all over the country to talk with ordinary Nepalis and directly hear their voices, opinions and aspirations, according to the release.

Radio Chautari broadcasts a weekly radio program through the national network on 25 local FM stations in six languages to reach diverse ethnic group of people.

In the year 2009 Radio Chautari had broadcast 39 programs while it will be broadcasting 41 programs this year, Toya Ghimire, Senior Radio Producer, Radio Chautari informed journalists in a press meeting organized here in UN House. KATHMANDU, Friday, Xinhua