Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, January 27:

At an interaction programme on ‘Tamang Language Programmes on FM radios’ organised by the Martin Chautari here today, Tamang radio programme hosts claimed that their programmes in the Tamang language were the only effective means making communities aware about their language and culture.

At present twelve different FM stations are airing Tamang language programmes across the nation. And of the twenty-five persons directly involved in the Tamang language programmes, only a few are paid regularly.

“Almost all of them are working just for the sake of their community,” said Pratik Tamang, a presenter at Times FM. According to him, Tamangs have tremendous trust in programmes broadcast in their own language.

“Nowadays they talk about their rights annd political issues. They now feel they should send their children to schools instead of making them work in fields,” he said, and this was because of the FMs airing programmes in the Tamang language.

However, he pointed out that, “The Tamangs working in various high-profile jobs do not support us. Even a small help from them could be a great contribution to our cause.”

Jagat Dong of HBC FM said the station covers some 21 districts, and the station has a wide range of Tamang listeners from districts like Bara and even from the Terai areas of the country. He said the programmes broadcast include those on trafficking of girls, child workers, foreign employment and Tamang literature among otherissues, and aims at creating awareness. “Due to the overwhelming response from the listeners, we have been compelled to extend our programme,” he said.

The participants also talked about airing bilingual programmes so that people from other communities can also come to know about the Tamangs and their culture, and this could also attract commercial ads from various business houses.