The Misinformation Landscape Study program continued with its third phase, organized in Janakpurdham, the capital of Madhesh Province on January 10, 2023.
The objective of the discussion was to raise awareness about misinformation in the region and identify ways to counter it.
The program had 25 participants, including representatives from political parties, youth, students, farmers, women’s groups, journalists, and social media influencers.
Misleading narratives that discourage women from participating in the electoral system were identified as a prominent issue in Madhesh Province. A Dalit woman respondent stated that social media is often used to defame and discourage women in politics.
Women politicians also reported facing barriers in obtaining first-past-the-post (FPTP) tickets, with misinformation being circulated that they cannot compete with male or economically well-off candidates.
Another misguided narrative identified in the region is the notion of Madhesis vs Pahadis, which has reportedly arisen due to social media and unregistered portals. However, one participant noted that politicians and opinion makers may be behind its promotion for their electoral gains.
Misunderstanding about the country’s constitution and citizenship laws were also identified as issues in Madhesh Province. According to a government attorney who is from the Madhesi community and works in Janakpur District Court, a few influential opinion makers and writers are responsible for creating the narrative that the constitution is discriminatory towards the Madhesi community.
The attorney suggests that if the constitution had been translated into Maithili, distributed widely among the Madhesi communities, and explained clearly, the violent protests that occurred before and after the adoption of the constitution could have been avoided.
The flow of misinformation was also observed to be high during crisis situations, particularly political movements. Civil society representatives noted that such misinformation is often disseminated based on emotions, religion, and threats. Additionally, student participants identified the issue of sharing information without verifying it in the province.