KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 6
The federal government has issued the E-governance Commission (Formation and Operation) Order, 2022, for the promotion of electronic system in public service delivery and government functions.
The order, which paves the way for the formation and operation of E-governance Commission, also focuses on formulation and implementation of cyber security policy to make the use of electronic system more systematic, reliable and secure. As per the order published in the Nepal Gazette yesterday, the government will form an eight-member E-governance Commission chaired by the prime minister and cochaired by the minister of Communications and Information Technology. Other members of the commission include the chief secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, secretary at the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, two persons, including at least one woman appointed by the government and chief executive officer of the commission.
The functions, duties and powers of the commission are to provide necessary suggestions to the government for the formulation of integrated policy related to cyber security, and establishment and operation of electronic system in government bodies to develop short-term and long-term policies on information technology and e-governance; to formulate necessary policies and plans for creation and promotion of employment in information technology sector, to develop and implement norms related to database, communication equipment and network to be set up in government bodies; and to ensure security of electronic system.
Similarly, the commission will be responsible for developing and implementing standards for the establishment, operation and management of integrated data centre of information technology, developing norms related to financial transactions to be conducted through electronic platforms, carrying out mapping on feasibility and need for use of electronic systems, identifying potential risks in e-governance and measures to overcome them, making provision for data sharing among various government bodies in all three tiers of government, and coordinating with various international institutions for export of software developed in Nepal, among others.
The order also states that the government will appoint a person as chief executive officer of the commission.
A Nepali citizen having obtained educational qualification of at least bachelor's degree in information technology and master's degree in any subject along with 12 years of work experience in the area of defence will be eligible to be appointed CEO of the commission. Any person convicted of corruption, rape, human trafficking, money laundering, misuse of passport, kidnapping and other criminal offences involving moral turpitude will be disqualified from holding the position of CEO.
The tenure of CEO will be four years with the possibility of re-appointment for the second term. However, the government may remove him/her from the post of CEO if his/her performance is not up to the mark. According to the order, the government will provide necessary manpower and budget to the commission.
A version of this article appears in the print on September 7, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.
