User:Jagaran Media Center/sandbox

The Organization
In 2000, Dalit journalists sought to challenge embedded caste based discrimination practices in Nepal through media awareness, and established the Jagaran Media Center (JMC). In its relatively short lifespan, the JMC has been successful in raising Dalit issues at the local, national, and international level. The JMC aims to be a media hub for Dalit news in Nepal, and promote a more equitable, inclusive, and accountable democracy.

The center has promoted Dalit empowerment by giving Dalits the means to create their own media, and through journalism training, and publishing and producing Dalit-focused media. JMC also operates the radio station Radio Jagaran 93.6 MHz in Rupandehi district, produces a national Dalit focused radio program, runs the Dalit Research and Resource Center, produced the acclaimed television series "Dalan", and distributes an e-newsletter.

JMC has its central office in Kathmandu, with a regional office in Butwal, Rupandehi district.

JMC consists of program, radio, and accounting departments, along with the Research and Resource Center and library. All JMC staff members are energetic, committed, and young activists committed to the Dalit cause. The vast majority of JMC employees are Dalits, with a few others from non-Dalit communities.

Executive Committee
Rem Bahadur Biswokarma Chairperson Kamala Biswokarma Vice-Chairperson Deepak Bahadur Pariyar Secretary General Amit Gautam Treasurer Bhola Paswan Member Dulari Harijan Member

Members
Suvash Kumar Darnal Founder Chairperson Pancha Kumari Pariyar Sunsari Parbati Sunam Morang Sapana Basyal Chitwan Tika Ruchal Palpa Nisha Bishwokarma Pokhara Gurusharan Sada Siraha Prem Nepali Pokhara Milan Pariyar Doti Shivaji Gayak Rupandehi Gaura Nepali Dang Ashok Darnal Palpa

Advisors
Binod Pahadi Kesh Bahadur Pariyar Krishna Ranapal Janga Nepali

Staff
Narendra Singh Sunan Program Director Rajesh Marasini Program Manager Prabha Pariyar Admin/Finance Coordinator Bir Bahadur Nepali Media Officer Sudesh Kumar Siwa Program Officer Mahabir Bishowakarma Radio Program Assistant Shiva Hari Gyawali DRR/CCA Theme leader Accounting Volunteer	Susila Sunar Radio Volunteer	Sushmita Chaudhary Research Center Volunteer Dipendra Paswan Program Volunteer Corey Black Advocacy Project Fellow	Arati

Katwal Radio Magazine
Katwal's goal is to raise awareness amongst Dalit and non-Dalit people of their basic human rights (legal, social, political, health, education, food, land, and economic) at the grass root level. Katwal is transmitted from ...

Since its inception, Katwal has objected to the untouchable custom in Nepali society, and insists on an equitable and just society. It aims to highlight caste-based discrimination and untouchability issues against the Dalits, pressure State institutions and individuals to uphold anti-discriminatory policies and laws, and enable an open dialogue between Dalits and non-Dalits in order to eliminate Nepali caste-based discrimination.

Listners
Katwal Radio Patrika's programming is Dalit-focused, but its message is intended for Dalits and non-Dalits alike. The radio program materials feature: reports; question and answers; analysis of news and activities; call-in reports; dramas; song and poetry; and listeners' views.

Katwal has also been broadcasting the stories and views of oppressed and downtrodden Dalits. Listeners' clubs have organized various campaigns against caste-based discrimination, along with sanitation, education, and participatory issues. The Listeners' clubs have become a dependable medium for collaboration among local listeners and for organizing campaigns.

Katwal is broadcasting regularly on Constituent Assembly issues, and highlighting the importance of Dalit inclusiveness, proportional representation, and restructuring of the state. Listeners' participation in Katwal Radio Patrika

Total number of Listeners' club	569
Number of Listeners affiliated with the club	6116 Male members	4127 Female members	1989 Non-Dalits	4008 Dalits	       210

Television Series : Dalan
JMC has produced a 43 episode tele serial illustrating the life, suffering and upliftment of three generations of a Dalit family called Dalan. The main purpose of Dalan is to create awareness among Dalits and non-Dalits alike and encourage a change in attitudes and behaviors toward Dalits. JMC has applied a participatory approach to the writing of Dalan by utilizing intensive discussions with Dalit scholars, writers, activists, film critics and journalists.

Shot entirely in the remote villages of Parbat, Baglung and the periphery of Kathmandu, Dalan presents a very realistic picture of Dalits life and history from 1950 to 1995 A.D.

Directed by Navin Subba (of Numafung) and aptly scripted by Aahuti, a renowned litterateur and Dalit activist, Dalan has become a work of art.

Grassroots Project
Through grassroots journalism and activism, this project aims to report the untold stories of Nepal's Dalits in rural communities, while providing justice and democratic accountability to those afflicted by caste discrimination. Starting with 10 districts across Nepal, partnered Dalit journalists are reporting on Dalit issues in their respective districts on their own blogs, hosted below, and are disseminated nationally and internationally via the JMC. In instances of caste discrimination and human rights abuses, partnered Dalit-focused NGOs in the districts of focus are mediating cases and ensuring accountability and justice by the local community and government, while receiving national and international level support from the JMC and the human rights community.