Government gears up to draft dedicated policy on culture

Kathmandu, Sept 5: Nepal is embarking on a historic initiative to prepare its first-ever cultural policy. The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has taken initiation towards this end by constituting a 13-member taskforce under the coordination of Nepal Academy Chancellor Bhupal Rai.

According to Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Sudan Kirati, the taskforce has been given timeline of around two months to submit the study report. The Minister assessed that the Ministry has not yet taken significant steps in the area of culture and the decision to draft a dedicated cultural policy aimed to address this gap.

The taskforce consist of several prominent members, including former lawmaker Mall K Sundar, Language Commission’s member Dr Amar Giri, Culture Division’s chief Damodar Gautam, culture experts Dr Prem Khatri, Dr Dilli Oli, Dr Man Bahadur Bishwakarma, Pro Dr Bina Poudyal, Dev Sharan Yadav, researcher Bhogiraj Chamling and film director Nabin Subba. Ministry under-secretary Punyamaya Guragain is the member secretary for the taskforce. Taskforce coordinator Rai said,” Though culture is one of the bedrocks of politics, an adequate sufficient discourse on it is still awaited.”