KATHMANDU: The fourth convention of Association of Nepalese Indigenous Nationalities Journalists (ANIJ) concluded here yesterday demanding newsroom diversity.

Issuing a 14-point declaration, ANIJ, has demanded both the state-owned and private media to maintain proportional representation of all the communities.

The convention has also urged the people to press Constituent Assembly members, the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) and human rights activists to restructure the country on the basis of ethnicity, language, culture and region and its implementation.

The umbrella organisation of indigenous nationalities journalists, which has 32 district committees, has demanded action against the media failing to implement the Working Journalists' Act.

It has also demanded to form an Advertising Authority immediately for the proportional distribution of public welfare advertisements being provided by the state and to provide special recognition and subsidy to the media of indigenous nationalities.

The convention also demanded that the government form an inclusive body to impart journalism trainings to indigenous peoples.

Expressing serious concern over increasing activities against federalism and secularism, the convention has decided to launch a media campaign to institutionalise federalism and secularism in the country.

The convention has elected a 17-member executive committee on the leadership of Mohan Singh Lama for the next three year.

The committee includes five vice-presidents --Dambar Krishna Shrestha, Dipen Rai, Tilak Pun, Ekraj Chaudhary and Ganesh Chaudhary for central, eastern, western, mid-western and far-western regions respectively.

Danda Gurung has been elected general secretary, Tika Ram Pradhan treasurer and Sushma Majhi and Bhairav Angla secretaries of the committee.

Elected members include Saru Rana Magar (Rupandehi) Sharmila Lama (Makwanpur), Sunita Tamang (Kavre), Manju Gurung (Kathmandu), Keshab Sherpa (Taplejung), Gajurdhan Rai (Kathmandu) and Manoj Gharti Magar (Kathmandu).

Remaining four members of the 21-member committee will be nominated by the central committee later.

Amending the statute, the fourth convention of ANIJ has provisioned 33 per cent quota for women.

During the inaugural session of the convention vice-president of National Foundation for the Development of Indigenous Nationalities (NFDIN) felicitated chairman of Sagarmatha Television Nirmal Gurung for his contribution to the media sector.

Former head of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, Laldhwoj Deosa Rai could not receive the honour due to illness.