Nepali FM stations to air common program on exiled issue

Kathmandu, December 22: Five private radio stations have formed a network to launch radio program for exiled Bhutanese.

Managing director of Communication Corner, Gopal Guragai informed Bhutan News Service (BNS) that all procedures have been completed to start airing Saranarthi Sandesh from January 9.

"The program goes on air from Ujyalo FM Kathmandu, and Mechi Tunes Kakarvitta, Saptarangi FM Damak,Kanchanjanga FM Birtamod and Sapta Koshi FM Biratnagar simultaneously from 6:30 PM to 7:00 Pm every Wednesday and Friday ".

Funded by Foundation of Open Society Institute, USA, Saranarthi Sandesh targets to inform all exiled Bhutanese with reliable and informed information on repatriation, local integration and third country resettlement.

"We will distribute 18,000 Chinese radio sets to all huts in seven camps before we start our program" said Guragai.

Besides Saranarthi Sandesh, FM stations in Jhapa are airing weekly radio programs targeting one-lakh plus exiled Bhutanese listeners.

BNS started airing weekly radio program Saranarthi Sarokar a year back from Nepal FM, Kathmandu and same program from Pathibhara FM ,Damak since last November. It is the only radio program having excusive contents and produced by 'refugees' radio journalists. Bhutan News Service/Vidhyapati Mishra