Nepal Government Local-level becoming Information Technology Friendly
Last Updated on by Sumi
It has been three years since the elected people’s representatives were reinstated at the local level. Since then there seems to be an expansion of the IT sector and resources very rapidly. And now the local level seems to become information technology-friendly.
With the expansion of access to the Internet, information technology-friendly services at the local level, including education, health, agriculture, tourism, and local development, have been assisted in the development, expansion, and promotion.
During this period, the local level has made an effective leap in expanding the use of information technology.
According to The Department of Information Technology (DOIT) with the increasing access in the field of information and technology, the effectiveness in the service at the local level, and the service recipients have become comfortable.
Director General of the Department, Prem Sharan Shrestha, said
The government data at the local level has become secure as the local government is becoming information technology-friendly.
According to him, studies and research have been done in the field of information and technology and employment has been created at the local level by promoting and developing the information technology industry.
688 Mobile Applications in the Local Government of Nepal
According to the Department, to make the local level information and technology-friendly, 688 mobile apps have been created at the local level so far.
The department has intensified the work of creating a single mobile app for all local levels. This number is more than 91 %of the total 753 local levels.
There are 134 local level mobile app users in Province 1, 82 in Province 2, 118 in Bagmati, 83 in Gandaki, 106 in Lumbini, 79 in Karnali and 86 in the Far West. The process of creating mobile apps at the remaining 65 local levels has also reached the final stage.
What are the features and information that can be obtained from Mobile Applications?
- Information about the services, programs, and projects provided by the local level, act, rules, ward-related information, important places within the local level, emergency contact number, etc.
- From these apps, anyone can submit suggestions and complaints at any time and place, express public opinion, express public opinion, and even have a two-way dialogue about service delivery and development.
- Also, these apps can be made electronically, are linked to the relevant local level website.
According to the National Federation of Villages and the Federation of Nepalese Municipalities, the effectiveness of service delivery has increased as information and technology can be viewed and information can be viewed from mobile apps after posting local level policies, programs, budgets, planning methods, performance, and other activities on the website.
Main challenging part was to lack of internet access in the local levels while making this possible.
Expanding Internet access throughout the Country
According to the Nepal Telecommunication Authority, work is underway to increase broadband connectivity in 18 different projects in community schools, hospitals, villages, municipalities, and ward offices in rural areas by Mangsir.
The government is accelerating the expansion of broadband internet across the country.
NEA spokesperson Min Prasad Aryal said that,
The broadband internet connection has been completed in 70 percent of rural areas of the country.
How many districts already covered with broadband internet access?
According to him, broadband internet connection has been completed in the designated places of 46 districts. Out of 15 thousand 982 places in these districts, 11 thousand 213 places have been connected to the internet so far.
Internet service has reached 512 out of 753 local levels. Out of six thousand 742 ward offices, internet connection has been completed in four thousand 313 places.
Is Central Government facilitating and coordinating to local levels for making this possible?
The Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration has been providing necessary facilitation and coordination to all local levels in the work of information technology. Information technology officers have been provided at all 753 local levels.
Chiranjeevi Timalsina, program director of the state and local government assistance program, said that;
The state and local government assistance program under the ministry has been providing necessary assistance to provide training to the local level information officers. – From Gorkhapatra
