TU constituent campuses start assigning information officers

Kathmandu - Tribhuvan University (TU) constituent colleges have appointed information officers after official information were sought from them. 

Freedom Forum, a non-government organisation working for the promotion of freedom of expression and right to information, had earlier sought information with 60 TU constituent colleges for long, promoting them to appoint the information officer. 

As per the Right to Information Act, 2064 (2007), a public body shall assign an information officer for the purpose of disseminating information relating to office affairs and a Nepali citizen interested to obtain information held by such body can submit an application before the concerned information officer by stating reason to receive such information. 

Earlier, the colleges seemed reluctant to appoint information officer citing the TU central department had arranged such officer and there was no provision of such appointment in the constituent colleges. 

However, some colleges still seem hesitant to disseminating the information freely. 
Forty out of the 60 constituent campuses under the Tribhuvan University have assigned their information officers following long efforts of the Freedom Forum. 

The campuses assigning the information officers include Bhojpur Multiple Campus, Bhojpur; Mahendra Multiple Campus, Banke; Doti Multiple Campus, Doti; Mahendra Ratna Multiple Campus, Ilam; Dadeldhura Multiple Campus, Amargadhi Dadeldhura; Institute of Forestry, Pokhara; Jumla Multiple Campus, Jumla; Mechi Multiple Campus, Bhadrapur; Mahendra Ratna Cmpus, Tahachal, Kathmandu, Central Campus of Technology, Dharan; Thakurram Multiple Campus, Birgunj, Parsa; Thapathali Campus, Thapathali, Kathmandu; Terhathum Multiple Campus, Terhathum; Ramswarup Ramsagar Multiple Campus, Janakpur; and Nepalgunj Nursing Campus, Nepalgunj, Banke, among others. 

The remaining campuses yet to assign the information officers will immediately do so and send a letter informing the National Information Commission about the same, it is stated. 

There is lack of adequate public awareness about the right to information in Nepal. Although it has beena bout 10 years that the related legal framework and bodies as the National Information Commission have been forced, neither the government nor the citizens are found that much serious on its utilization.