Selection Committee Formed for Journalism Awards Distribution

The Independent Journalists' Association, Nepal (Swatantra Patrakar Sangh Nepal), has formed a talent selection committee for the distribution of various journalism-related awards established by the organization. 

The decision was made at a Central Committee meeting held in Kathmandu, chaired by the association's National President, Krishna Prasad Bastola.

A three-member talent selection committee has been formed under the coordination of the association's advisor and senior journalist, Narayan Karki. The members are communicators Durga Adhikari and Asafal Gautam. Adhikari is a previously honored recipient, while Gautam is the immediate past president of the Independent Journalists' Association Kaski chapter.

The organization operates three awards: the Social Journalism Award, the Independent Women's Journalism Award, and the Youth Journalism Award.

The 'Social Journalism Award,' established by social worker the late Lilabhakta Acharya, was first received by senior journalist Bhairav Risal (Bhaktapur). Subsequently, Bhupanidhi Panta (Lamjung) and Mohan Bhandari (Morang) have also been honored. The award carries a cash prize of Rs. 25,000 and a certificate of honor.

Social worker Acharya established an endowment fund of Rs. 500,001 for the award. The award is managed through the interest generated from this fund.

Similarly, the Independent Women's Journalism Award, established by nephew Krishna Prasad Bastola and daughter Bhagawati Baral Sigdel in memory of social workers Suryanath Upadhyay Baral and Tulsidevi Baral, carries a cash prize of Rs. 10,000 and a certificate of honor.

For this award, senior journalist Bastola and social worker Bhagawati Baral Sigdel jointly established an endowment fund of Rs. 51,000. 

Previously honored recipients of this award include Durga Adhikari (Kaski), Shila Gurung (Parbat), Rabina Ale Magar (Tanahun), Shanti Rana (Kaski), Sita Darnal (Rupandehi), Ishwari Poudel (Syangja), Manita Rai (Sunsari), Sabita Tiwari (Nawalpur), and Dilakumari Chaudhary (Dang).

Likewise, the Independent and Active Youth Journalism Encouragement Award, established by the Independent Journalists' Association Kaski in memory of Gorkhapatra Baje (Chandra Kanta Poudel), carries a cash prize of Rs. 10,000 and a certificate of honor.

Recipients of this award include Namaskar Shah (Banke) and Narendra Dhakal (Jhapa). Along with this award distributed by the central body, the Lamjung and Banke branches also provide journalism awards.