Vice President Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav has said that democracy will be open and transparent only if the general people were ensured right to information (RTI).
Addressing a programme organized on the occasion of 18th National Information Day on Monday, the Vice President said that the society would be well-governed and corruption-free through the optimum use of RTI.
Saying that the RTI is the citizen’s right to know about the government’s activities, the Vice President said that the officials should be accountable to this issue.
“The democratic system should be transparent and open. The officials have more responsibility to provide information sought by the general public as per the laws,” Yadav added, stating that the RTI not only makes the government employees accountable but also helps reduce corruption and irregularities.
Also speaking at the event, Minister for Communications and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung said that there should be revisions at the policy level to make the practice o
f RTI broader and more accessible.
Minister Gurung said that steps have been initiated to amend outdated Acts and policies by making a plan of action for a year.
The Mass Communications Bill is being drafted and the Media Council Bill is in the final stage of its preparation, according to the Minister.
Likewise, Chief Commissioner of National Information Commission Mahendra Man Gurung said that RTI was a meaningful instrument in a civic governance system and the state should broaden the scope of RTI.
Source: National News Agency Nepal