Naya Nepal
Introduction Produced by Equal Access Nepal, '''''Naya Nepal''''' is a half-hour-long interactive radio program going on-air since May 31, 2006.At the beginning, program issues were concentrated on impact of decade long armed conflict and discussed on root cause of conflict with special reference to change political context of Nepal. Naya Nepal radio programme goes on-air once a week through Radio Nepal, Word Space satellite channel and more than 45 FM stations across the country. Main themes of the programme are peace building (conflict transformation), good governance, human rights, rule of law, political reform process, Constituent Assembly (CA) election, constitution building process etc. The main target groups are youth and adult population of rural areas.
History In October 2005, Equal Access began implementation of “Sundar Shanta Bishal” (SSB), Beautiful  Peaceful Diverse Land, with the predominant aim of utilizing radio and outreach to raise  awareness across Nepal of the rising human cost of the conflict, through a combination of real  ‘voices from the field’ and dramatized accounts of Nepali and international nonviolent  movements conveyed via a dynamic serial drama. Initial program design and implementation  took place against a backdrop of strict media censorship. In response to the media clampdown following the King's ascension in February 2005, which led to a ban on news broadcasts, the initiative "Beautiful Peaceful Diverse Land" (Sundar Shanta Bishal - SSB) was created to provide rural Nepalis, who were impacted by the ongoing conflict, with a variety of peaceful methods to express themselves.The significant changes that occurred in Nepal during 2006 and the subsequent years, along with the evolving nature of the conflict, enabled the program to explore numerous topics previously off-limits, including democracy and corruption, for both rural and urban Nepalis. As Nepal progresses through its peace process, SSB has adapted to better address the evolving realities, fostering a sense of hope for a more promising future. Reflecting this optimism and desire for peace, SSB has been renamed “Naya Nepal” or “New Nepal,” symbolizing the nation's aspiration for a brighter tomorrow.2 episodes of Naya Nepal used to be produced and broadcast once a week. Since February 2007 Naya Nepal focused on Women and their issues to be raised in Constituent Assembly once in a week and peace-building and governance in next episode at same week It disseminated critically needed information and education material in relation to how youth and adult population in Nepall can contribute in peace and reconciliation in transition period. But since March 2009, only one episode of Naya Nepal is produced and broadcast once a week.
Naya Nepal Radio Program and Community Activities Naya Nepal has bolstered the skills of community reporters and local FM station producers. A group of 10 community reporters and 12 local FM station producers received training from Naya Nepal, focusing on creating local adaptations of Naya Nepal and channeling community perspectives to Equal Access's central production unit. The initiative resulted in the production of Naya Nepal in various languages across different stations: seven stations in Nepali, three in Maithali, one in Bhojpuri, one broadcasting in both Doteli and Tharu languages, and another in Tamang language.Naya Nepal has worked with many community organizations like SOLVE Nepal, General Welfare Pratisthan (GWP) and Samjhauta Nepal to mobilize community reporters and to facilitate listener's club and get feedback from the listener's club. Feedback's sent by the Listener's Club are incorporated in the radio program's.
Present At present, Naya Nepal is covering issues which are directly related with minorities of Nepal includes Dalit, Women, and other disadvantaged group with special reference to their issues to be incorporated in new constitution. Naya Nepal radio programme facilitated direct interaction between community and CA members in direct phone-in program.In order to produce and disseminate Naya Nepal various donor agencies such as USAID, UNDEF, UNIFEM, Institute of Peace & Justice (IPJ), International Alert (IA), International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ), and CEDPA has provided financial and technical support.The program is being produced in the theme of Judicial and Security Sector Reform (JSSR) in collaboration with IA in 2009.
References
External links *  Equal Access*  Nepal Radio Homepage