Kathmandu: Various stakeholders, including federal parliamentarians, have expressed concerns over the low number of citizens utilizing their right to information (RTI). In a recent meeting of the Education, Health, and Information Technology Committee under the House of Representatives (HoR), the issue was brought to the forefront.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Chief Information Commissioner of the National Information Commission (NIC), Mahendraman Gurung, highlighted the challenges faced by the NIC in raising RTI awareness among citizens. Commissioner Gurung emphasized that the effective implementation of RTI is crucial for curbing corruption, ensuring accountability, and enhancing transparency, which can only be achieved when citizens actively seek information.
During the discussion on the NIC’s role and the obstacles faced in facilitating citizens’ access to information, committee members called for the development of mechanisms to disseminate RTI knowledge to the grassroots level. The committ
ee underscored the importance of public bodies being transparent and accountable to uphold good governance.
Committee member Dr. Toshima Karki urged the government to establish a system to educate citizens about their right to information and the procedures required to obtain it. Ishwori Gharti, another member, emphasized the necessity for all citizens to proactively seek information from public bodies.
Additionally, committee member Devendra Poudel warned against the spread of misinformation due to citizens’ lack of access to timely information from official bodies. Poudel pointed out the challenges faced by people in remote areas in accessing accurate information.
Chief Commissioner Gurung also noted the disparity in RTI access, particularly among women and marginalized communities, attributing it to insufficient budget allocations. He called for increased budgetary provisions to expand the NIC’s reach and effectiveness. Furthermore, Gurung highlighted issues related to the classification of information
and the need for greater commitment to mainstreaming RTI.
The NIC has been advocating for transparency in examination results published by the Public Service Commission, with the commission already issuing an order to allow candidates to view their marks. According to the NIC, 96.7 percent of appeals, amounting to 10,274 cases, have been resolved, with 72 percent of these appeals originating from the local level.