KATHMANDU, AUGUST 20

The Statistics Bill, 2022 recently passed by both houses of the Federal Parliament has proposed to make data production, processing, storage, publication and distribution more credible, systematic and time-befitting.

The bill aims to facilitate the federal, provincial and local governments in formulating and implementing their policies and programmes in an effective and objective manner. The bill also envisions the establishment of National Data System in a bid to maintain integrated records of data collected by government offices and public entities in accordance with the prevailing law and rules. The National Statistics Office will maintain coordination between the data system and agencies linked to it.

As per the bill, the federal government may issue a notified order to the NSO for collection of data on any issue. 'If such a notified order is received, the NSO shall collect data related to any person and public or private organisation,' it says. Any agency or public entity may also collect or publish data on any subject by obtaining permission from the NSO. However, no permission shall be granted for collection and publication of data which cause adverse impacts on national interest, social or cultural harmony and diplomatic relations, and pose threat to governance system of the country, internal affairs or peace and security.

Any agency or public entity authorised to collect data are required to get them approved by the NSO before their publication or use. 'Any details, records, information, data and electronic records of any person shall be used only for collective statistical purpose so as to maintain individual privacy. However, the personal details may be submitted to a court as evidence, as sought by the concerned agency in the course of criminal investigation,' reads Section 9.

A version of this article appears in the print on August 21, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.