LAMJUNG: The government of Nepal is set to implement new legislation aimed at managing the misuse of social media and addressing cooperative fraud, as part of its commitment to safeguard the right to information, Minister for Communications and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung announced. Speaking at a special function during the Tamu Lhosar festival in Sundarbazaar, Lamjung district, Minister Gurung highlighted the government’s efforts to regulate digital platforms and ensure cyber security.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the minister emphasized the government’s responsibility to curb cybercrimes and indicated that a cyber security law would soon be introduced. Minister Gurung, who also serves as the government’s spokesperson, stated that the upcoming legislation would target the misuse of social media, aligning with the government’s broader strategy to enhance information management.
Addressing the issue of cooperative fraud, Minister Gurung denounced fraudulent cooperatives and stressed the necessity of preventing scams that exploit the general public. He announced plans to impose a limit on cooperative chairperson tenure, restricting individuals to two terms to prevent embezzlement. Additionally, cooperatives will be categorized based on their status, with registration taking place at local and provincial levels accordingly.
The minister also informed that an ordinance amending certain Nepal Acts related to cooperatives had been approved by the parliament and authenticated by the President. This amendment aims to refund depositors whose money was embezzled by cooperatives. The government plans to start by returning smaller amounts to depositors, gradually addressing larger claims.
Minister Gurung further touched on the constitutional provision allowing the use of languages other than Nepali for government business, advocating for these constitutional rights to be exercised. He also warned against attempts by regressive forces to reinstate older governance systems, urging mainstream political parties to protect the federal democratic republic system established through significant sacrifices and struggles.
The event, organized by the Tamu Samaj, featured various cultural processions and traditional dances from the Gurung community, including Sorathi, Ghatu, Krishna Charitra, and Dhadobhaka, as noted by Min Bahadur Gurung, Chairperson of Sundar Bazar Samaj.