Date: April 13, 2026 

- To warn the government to be media-friendly in amending the constitution and policy making.
- To launch a nationwide movement against discriminatory decisions taken in government advertisements.
- To urge media houses to respect labor.
- To launch a national campaign to include working journalists in the Social Security Fund.
- To schedule general meetings of all three levels of the Federation.
The Federation of Nepali Journalists has been continuously advocating for press freedom, democracy and civil rights since its inception. In this context, the fourth plenary meeting of the Federation Central Committee held in Hetauda, ​​Makawanpur on 28 and 29 Chaitra, 2082, issues this declaration.
1. The Federation is committed to protecting, promoting and upholding the rights to freedom of expression and complete press freedom as provided for in the constitution. The Federation, which is active with the interests of working journalists as its main goal, is committed to democracy, an independent judiciary and an accountable governance system and press freedom.
2. The Federation congratulates the newly formed government led by Balendra Shah, a member of the House of Representatives, and the leader of the parliamentary party of the National Independent Party, who received a new mandate after the election of the House of Representatives on 21 Falgun 2082, amidst the adverse circumstances that arose after the Genji Rebellion. The Federation is ready to facilitate and cooperate in improving the legal and policy system for the regulation, operation, and sustainable management of the media sector. In addition, it warns that while amending the constitution and formulating policies and laws related to communication, it should be based on the provisions of the constitution, international treaties and agreements, and democratic values, and be media-friendly.
3. The meeting seriously discussed the secretary-level decision of the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers to end the irregularities seen in advertisements and maintain good governance, and the circular issued on 18 Chaitra 2082 to all federal ministries, commissions, secretariats, provinces, and local levels to publish and broadcast advertisements only in government media.
The Federation's conclusion in this regard is as follows:
- The government's efforts to control the irregularities that are indirectly occurring in advertisements are positive. However, limiting government advertising to government media outlets in the same name, which is against the constitution, law, international values, open market economy and the spirit of federalism, is objectionable and unacceptable.
- The Federation believes that this policy is a government attempt to indirectly control press freedom. It has weakened private media outlets financially and created indirect pressure and self-censorship on independent journalism.
- This policy has weakened the financial basis of more than 400 radio, newspaper, television and online media outlets currently operating across the country, putting not only the existence of those organizations but also the employment of thousands of journalists, media workers, workers and employees in danger.
- When thousands of media outlets that have access to remote villages are closed, the flow of information to the local level is weakened and the citizens' right to information is stifled.
4. Therefore, the Federation demands the government to immediately revoke the said circular and put an end to the current situation in government advertising, to make the distribution of advertisements transparent, proportionate and inclusive, to distribute them fairly in all private, community and government media, and to implement a proportional advertising system for a long-term policy arrangement to protect and promote the crisis-hit media sector.
5. The directive issued by the Secretary-level decision of the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers is against the basic spirit of federalism. The Federation calls on the provincial and local governments to reject such a directive that is against the constitution and to make the distribution of advertisements transparent, inclusive and proportionate.
6. The Federation announces that it will continue the pressure program as follows:
- Discuss with legal experts about the government policy that has been brought to curb press freedom.
- Collaborate with the network of professional organizations (PAPAD).
- Discuss with all three levels of government, calling for the rejection of the unconstitutional policy.
- Discuss with media operators and other media stakeholders.
- To discuss with the United Nations Mission.
7. The government's attitude of restricting journalists' entry to Singha Durbar and restricting information and news gathering is considered objectionable and the Government of Nepal is urged to immediately remove these obstacles.
8. This meeting expresses serious protest against the media houses not paying regular wages to working journalists under the pretext of economic crisis, discouraging journalists from laying off journalists, and engaging in activities that violate labor rights, including humiliating and suspending them. In addition, the Federation urges all media houses to provide regular wages to working journalists and immediately pay the remaining arrears.
9. The Federation requests all media houses to ensure the social security of working journalists by joining the Social Security Fund. In addition, this meeting demands the Government of Nepal to amend the Working Journalists Act and make a binding legal provision for media houses to join the Social Security Fund and to increase the wages of working journalists as recommended by the Minimum Wage Determination Committee. The Federation pledges to launch a national campaign to include working journalists in the Social Security Fund.
10. The management of Republica Media and Avenues Television are urged to implement the agreement with the Federation. Similarly, a pressure campaign will be launched based on the complaints received from the Foundation Branch regarding the labor problems seen in the Federation's Radio Nepal branch and others.
11. The Federation welcomes the decision of the Honorable Supreme Court to implement the legal provision that every media institution must create a welfare fund for the rights and interests of working journalists from the public welfare advertisements, advertisements and profit proceeds as per Section 17 of the Working Journalists Act 2051. It also strongly demands the immediate implementation of the decision.
12. The government is requested to take the initiative to encourage media outlets including YouTube to follow the code of conduct and bring them into the mainstream, and to make legal arrangements in this regard.
13. This meeting draws serious attention to the governments at all three levels to bring a special plan for the development and upliftment of all types of media, including the self-employed, who are facing financial crises.
14. This meeting strongly demands the government to make the necessary legal and policy arrangements to minimize the impacts caused by the climate crisis and to implement them effectively.
15. The Federation announces the holding of the Central General Assembly and the General Assembly of all branches and provincial committees.
- District Branch - 2083 Baisakh 10 to Jestha 10
- Provincial Committee - 2083 Jestha 11 to 31
- Central - 2083 Asoj
- National Conference - 2083 Jestha month.
16. This meeting demands the Federation and provincial governments to expedite the work of preserving and promoting the historical, religious and cultural, tourist areas of Makawanpur including the historical Makawanpur Garhi, Shahid Park, and projects of national pride, especially the construction of fast tracks. In addition, this meeting demands the government to work on the economic development and employment creation of the country by re-operating the closed industries in the Hetauda industrial area, including the Hetauda Textile Industry.
17. This meeting expresses gratitude to the Makawanpur branch and stakeholders for the hospitality and management of the fourth plenary meeting of the Federation.

Ram Prasad Dahal
General Secretary