Nanda Kirati Dewan, Assam-based journalist, honoured with international journalism award

KATHMANDU: America Nepal Press Club, US, in association with National Press Club, Nepal awarded the Community Development & Global Peace Journalism 7th International Award 2020 to Nanda Kirati Dewan, a community development journalist based in Guwahati, Assam.

Along side International Human Rights Day, in an award function presided by NPC president Ram Krishna Kramacharya, Federal Democratic Government of Nepal's cabinet minister for Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration Right Honorable Rajendra Prasad Shrestha presented the International Journalism Award to Nanda K Dewan here in Kathmandu, Nepal on Friday in presence of members of journalism fraternity, representative of various foreign embassies, news executives and distinguished guests in the event co-ordinated by Ishwor Raj Dhakal, ANPC Nepal chapter president.

It is an International Trinnenial award initiated in the year millennium year 2000 which previously decorated journalist from America twice, Canada, German, France to name a few.

"I bless him and expect him to contribute on cross cultural ties between tribes of Nepal and NE India hence work Indo Nepal Relations with broader look beyond boundaries and border trade," said Ram Krishna Karmachary, National Press Club Nepal's president.

Dewan acknowledged the award as one of the highest honours for the journalism fraternity and the community he represents. He explained community development journalism is result of evolution of digital media raising communities concerns, documenting developments.

"It is specialized independent stream of journalism evolving from developing countries small cities and towns to draw attention of the authority concern and seek solution. He added that community development journalism yields results only after continuous coverage and rolling reporting over the time so that public opinion is generated and authorities acts on the matter," he said.

He also picked example from his place from his own region and mentioned about democratic demands of tribes and communities of NE India where some of them achieved statehood while several were given autonomy.

"Indo-Nepal Relations cannot be reviewed from the prism of trade and diplomacy, it's about cultural connections connecting communities and human civilisation, we should rise about geography and take pride of our rich heritage and shared history," he added.

Chief Guest Rajendra Prasad Shrestha, Cabinet Minister, Government of Nepal, spoke on global peace and community development journalism's role along with freedom of press.