Kathmandu Nepal, Dec 13, 2011: High Level Commission for Information and Technology (HLCIT) has been dissolved by the cabinet with a tussle in between the Ministry of Science and Technology and the commission itself. Sources say the action came when the commission activities started to undermine the Ministry’s jurisdiction. With the international reputation and recognition of the institution stakeholders and experts had met Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai requesting him not to dissolve the institution. This is yet another demeaning example of power politics that facilitates the control of bureaucracy over the administration.
According to the Government spokesperson “A separate division will be formed under the Ministry of Science and Technology where the activities of the commission will be handled.”
From the past eight years the commission has been preparing strategies and policies for the overall development of the Information and Communication Technology sector in Nepal. HLCIT was an apex body formed under the chairmanship of Rt. Hon. Prime Minister of Nepal with a view to providing crucial strategic direction and helping formulate appropriate policy responses for the development of ICT sector. It was directly involved in harnessing the use of technologies to meet key developmental challenges including governance reform and catalyzing economic growth for poverty reduction.