Complaints too few at Info Commission

Himalayan Times ; Kathmandu, Nepal; April 04, 2011,

KATHMANDU: Data shows very few Nepalis using their Right to Information (RTI) for receiving public services and lodging complaints.

In the past 21 months, the National Information Commission the body for addressing grievances has registered only 79 complaints.

Chief NIC Commissioner Binaya Kasaju said, “We have successfully delivered in all cases except providing Tribhuvan University answer sheets.” The case is under consideration at the court.

“Our information seeking effort has made even courts accountable and transparent. We want more complaints,” added Kasaju. Fifty-nine per cent of the population is not aware of RTI, while 43 per cent think it means freedom of expression, according to a recent research conducted by Basudev Neupane, a development consultant.

The research was conducted among 163 people in five districts. Only 15 per cent of them said RTI is a means of seeking and receiving information on public bodies. President of Federation of Nepali Journalists Dharmendra Jha said there is need of active bodies working voluntarily to help clients or there should be a separate mechanism at each office to ensuring RTI. Use of RTI can largely reduce corruption and enhance good governance, said Pranav Bhattarai, a researcher.