Radio Sagarmatha

Radio Sagarmatha is a nonprofit Nepalise radio station set up in 1999 and run by the Nepal Forum of Environmental Journalists, founded by Raghu Mainali.

History
"Prior to 1995, radio broadcasting was the exclusive domain of Radio Nepal, the state broadcaster, established in the early 1950s. An attempt in 1984 to establish an independent experimental station with support from UNESCO and Germany failed to get approval from either the government or Radio Nepal. Even after 1990 — despite the presence of policy, legislation and guidelines as well as an expanding print media environment — state governments were slow in relinquishing monopoly control of radio broadcasting. The first independent license was granted only in 1997, four and a half years after the initial application. The group to receive this first license was NEFEJ, the Nepal Forum of Environmental Journalists. The station is Radio Sagarmatha, Nepal’s first and only independent community-based public-interest radio broadcaster to-date. ...

"The result in 1999 is a non-profit radio station broadcasting for six hours a day to Nepal’s Capital Region, the Kathmandu Valley." 

Key Supporters
Source
 * "UNESCO-IPDC (International Program for the Development of Communication) provided start-up support for Radio Sagarmatha: fellowships and training, consultation, transmission and studio equipment. UNESCO has also provided follow-up support with computer equipment and studio components for RS and seed monies for the development of new stations in Nepal.
 * "PANOS offices in London and South Asia have provided support to the station in the form of training and broadcast fellowships to producers for programming concerning HIV/AIDS, different aspects of Nepal’s culture and development, and the status of drinking water in the Kathmandu Valley.
 * "DANIDA (Denmark) has provided operations support for the station as well as sponsoring an initiative called Safa Radio: Clean Air Campaign. (Denmark) has provided operations support for the station as well as sponsoring an initiative called Safa Radio: Clean Air Campaign.
 * "UNICEF provided funding in 1998 for a series of children’s programs featuring MaHa Sanchar.
 * "MS Nepal (Danish International Cooperation Agency) has provided assistance with training and organizational development through a local Danish co-operant. (Danish International Cooperation Agency) has provided assistance with training and organizational development through a local Danish co-operant.
 * "CECI (Canadian Center for International Studies and Cooperation) has provided Radio Sagarmatha with a full-time co-operant and a variety of institutional and capacity-building support. (Canadian Center for International Studies and Cooperation) has provided Radio Sagarmatha with a full-time co-operant and a variety of institutional and capacity-building support.
 * "OKO Himal (Eco-Himal: Society for Ecological Cooperation Alps-Himalaya) has provided support to upgrade studio and transmission facilities. (Eco-Himal: Society for Ecological Cooperation Alps-Himalaya) has provided support to upgrade studio and transmission facilities.
 * "Westminster Foundation for Democracy (England) is currently providing sponsorship to a 52-part series on democracy in Nepal. (England) is currently providing sponsorship to a 52-part series on democracy in Nepal.
 * "Communication Assistance Foundation (Netherlands) is providing a variety of support including facility upgrade, training programs and assistance for new rural radios in Nepal."

Related Sourcewatch resources

 * Panos London

Contact details
Radio Sagarmatha FM 102.4 MHz Bakhundol, Lalitpur GPO Box. 6958, Kathamndu, Nepal Phone: +977-1-5528091, 5542245, 5545680 Fax: +977-1-5530227 Email: stationmanager AT radiosagarmatha.org Web: http://www.radiosagarmatha.org