Dhangadhi: Chief Commissioner of National Information Commission, Dr. Suresh Prasad Acharya, has emphasized the importance of state mechanisms providing information without fear, highlighting the significance of citizen’s right to information. At an interaction organized by the Commission in Dhangadhi, Dr. Acharya underscored that easy dissemination of information is crucial for the nation’s prosperity and good governance. He urged that negligence in providing information, as mandated by laws related to the right to information, should not be tolerated and that state mechanisms must take this responsibility seriously.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Minister for Internal Affairs and Law of Sudurpaschim Province, Hira Sarki, highlighted the critical role of the right to information, particularly for the working class. Sarki noted that those who work honestly should not fear sharing information. The interaction also featured insights from Commission Secretary Dirgha Raj Mainali, who elaborated on the Commission’s role in implementing the right to information. Secretary at the Office of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers of Sudurpaschim Province, Bikas Koirala, discussed the policy-level arrangements made by the provincial government to enforce RTI.
Additionally, Chief District Officer of Kailali, Gogan Bahadur Hamal, Commissioner Gagan Bista, and Sudurpaschim Province President of the Federation of Nepali Journalists, Bharat Shah, were among those who advocated for increased accessibility to information. In the last fiscal year, a total of 81 complaints were filed in Sudurpaschim Province due to denial of information, with the majority of these complaints directed at local bodies.