National Information Commission submits annual report to PM

Kathmandu: The National Information Commission (NIC) has presented its annual report for the fiscal year 2020/21 to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba today. The report incorporating the major works and activities of the NIC has been submitted to the PM for tabling it in the Legislature Parliament in accordance with Clause 25 (1) of the Right to Information Act, 2064 BS.

On the occasion, PM Deuba said that establishment of the NIC has helped in maintaining good governance and stressed on its capacity enhancement and becoming sensitive to information of serious nature that are related to the national security.

NIC chief information commissioner Mahendra Man Gurung, handing over the report to the PM, said that the Commission was committed to implementing the constitutionally-provided important fundamental right – the right to information. He said the annual report includes the works and activities carried out by NIC in the fiscal year 2020/21, highlighting on the Commission’s suggestions as well.

NIC secretary Bhagirath Pandeya said the Commission’s annual report is presented to the Prime Minister as per the provision of the Right to Information Act.

Commissioners Kamala Oli Thapa and Ratna Prasad Mainali and Chief Secretary of Government of Nepal Shanker Das Bairagi among other officials were present on the occasion.

The report states that 753 applications were filed with the NIC during that period citing that the information was not provided by public bodies as per Clause 10 of the Right to Information Act. It is said 73 per cent of these applications were related to the local levels while 7 per cent were related to education, health and sports, 4 per cent related to the economic sector and 4 per cent were related to the law, justice and administration.

The report states that the Commission cleared 98.7 per cent of these applications. The Commission has conducted district-level interaction programme on the right to information in six districts namely, Kailali, Sindhupalchok, Parsa, Kanchanpur, Darchula and Doti, for the promotion and exercise of the right to information.

Similar interactions were also held at five local levels, namely, Shankharapur Municipality Kathmandu, Namobuddha Municipality Kavre, Thankre Rural Municipality Dhading, Nijgadh Municipality Bara and Sunapati Rural Municipality Ramechhap.

NIC also provided training on various aspects of the right to information to 695 people including the chiefs and information officers of public bodies, members of the civil society, journalists and the general public during this period.