An RTI Centre has been created in Nepal.
The new facility is located at the office of the National Information Commission, is managed by the Citizens’ Campaign for Right to Information in collaboration with the Commission, and supported with funds from the United Kingdom development agency, according to news reports including one in The Kathmandu Post.
The RTI Centre is designed “to provide necessary services to the people regarding the right to information and address their queries as well as assistance to them to know about the procedures to obtain the information they need,” according to the CCRI.
At an inaugural event Aug. 21, Secretary at NIC Shreeram Panta addressed implementation of the 2007 RTI law.
Also being established is a Toll Free Phone Number 1660-01-7000, type RTICNTRE and SMS to 4555 and email rticentrenepal@gmail.com.
CCRI Chairman Tara Nath Dahal spoke about the implementation of RTI Act 2007 and problems faced to implement the RTI Act, according to the CCRI summary. “Mr. Dahal said that government has not paid sufficient attention to implementation of RTI. He also highlighted the achievements made so far in the field of RTI such as Vat bill scandal, Supreme Court’s verdict which ensured student’s access to answer sheet,” according to the summary.
Chief Secretary Lila Mani Poudel “said that government is ready to make the government offices RTI friendly and said he is favor of imparting the maximum information to public,” CCRI reported.
The acting chief Commissioner of NIC, Shree Acharaya, reported that only about 207 cases were filed in NIC and among them 60% of those has been settled.
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