NIC appeals for effective implementation of RTI

Kathmandu / Jan 22: The National Information Commission (NIC) has appealed to all public agencies to ensure effective implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

For the effective implementation of constitutionally-guaranteed citizens’ right to information, the NIC has decided to request federal level public agencies through the Chief Secretary of Nepal government. Likewise, Chief Secretaries of all province governments would be asked to oversee the implementation of the RTI Act at province level while Secretary of the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration (MOFAGA) would be requested to ensure its effective enforcement at local level.

Making public the decisions of the NIC meeting on Friday, the information watchdog body said that it has decided to gradually ensure inclusive and effective participation of all groups and communities while selecting participants in the programmes to be implemented at local levels.

NIC Commissioner and spokesperson Kamala Oli Thapa shared that the NIC has decided to instruct all public agencies to mandatorily plan program and budget on right to information, manage adequate budget for legally-binding proactive disclosure of information and organize training and orientation and provide logistic support to public information officers designated in various government agencies.

The NIC has also decided to request the public agencies to set up an information desk and waiting room for the convenience of information seekers.

Spokesperson Thapa further shared that the NIC has directed the director-general of Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) to adequately publish awareness raising materials clearly reflecting the roles and responsibilities of the citizens and enumerators’ obligation and ensure its outreach to the public about the national census as per the Clause 19 (Section C, F and G) of the RTI Act-2063 BS.

The NIC has also directed seven public agencies to furnish responses in writing within seven days in the month of Poush (mid-December to mid-January).

It has also directed four public agencies to provide information requested by the citizens within seven days. RSS