Public institutions, including government organisations of the district, have been found reluctant to make public information of public importance, stakeholders complain.
Despite the existence of the law that obliges the public agencies to publish information about their work performance every three months, they are often found refusing to make public information of public importance.
The government enacted the Right to Information Act (RTI) on July 21, 2007 as a tool to make the public institutions accountable and responsible towards the citizens.
The RTI Act obliges the public bodies to update and publish their information every three months. But the implementation of the act is still weak and largely inadequate in the district, the stakeholders claim.
The act has also made it mandatory for the public organisations to arrange for information officers for the purpose of disseminating information about the works that such organisations have undertaken, which would lead to openness and transparency in the works of government offices.
However, the public agencies of the district seem to have failed to abide by this law. As a result, the people of the district are deprived of their right to obtain information of public importance.
Jagadish Rokaya, a local, said neither the government bodies nor the non-government agencies have been voluntarily disseminating information to the public as required by the law.
He said the public agencies were not following the practice of updating and disseminating information of public importance.
“If we have to get information, then we have to ask. Otherwise, they will not provide us any information on their own.”
The RTI is a very powerful tool to maintain openness and accountability in the public agencies, said speakers at a programme organized in the district headquarters on Sunday.
Access to information not only empowers citizens but also enhances good governance. But the general public doesn’t have an easy access to information, as public agencies and bureaucrats are still hesitant to uphold transparency, said Birendra Khadka, chairperson of NGO Federation district chapter.
As the public agencies are often found hiding information of public importance, cases of corruption and impunity have gone up in the district, he added.
Khadka said that after the formation of the rural municipality and municipalities following the local elections, the public has no idea about the work performance of these agencies.
Besides the government bodies, the non-government agencies too are found failing to abide by the RTI Act. The locals are unaware and ignorant about the work performance, duty and powers of these NGOs, he said.
It is the responsibility of the government to create an environment where all the citizens can get essential information without any hassle.
The bureaucrats in the government offices and the employees of the non-government bodies should change their behaviour and embrace openness and transparency to ensure good governance in the country, he demanded.
Source: The Rising Nepal By Shailendra Rokaya
Bajhang, Feb. 12