Kathmandu, May 21:

The Parliamentary committee on Environment, Communication and Technology today formed a working committee of MPs to bring about suitable changes in the Right to Information bill. The bill was presented in the parliament last year. The committee that comprises MPs Raghuji Panta, Narandra Bahadur Bam, Bharat Kumar Shah and Radheshyam Adhikary has been asked to look into demands of journalists and make changes in the bill accordingly.

The committee has been given seven days to come up with a report suggesting what provisos in the bill need to be changed.

The committee took the initiative after a discussion on the bill today. Media experts and journalists, during the discussions, urged the government to ensure people’s right to information by amending some of the provisions of the bill.

FNJ president Bishnu Nisthuri urged the government not to control any media. Supreme Court registrar Dr Ram Krsihna Timalsena called on government to ensure media’s access to public offices.

He urged the government to enact a ‘Whistle Blower Act’ to protect those who dole out information. Former FNJ president Tara Nath Dahal demanded removal of provisions in the bill that are “not friendly with the right to information.”

FNJ vice-president Shiva Gaunle and former secretary of the Judicial Council Kashi Raj Dahal urged the parliament to remove Clause 35 of the bill that says it is not mandatory for private limited firms to provide information to anyone.

The journalists urged MPs to remove procedural difficulties while demanding information from public offices. Minister for Information and Communication Krishna Bahadur Mahara said the ministry will consider all suggestions.