Govt's Policies and Programmes: Next decade will be 'IT Decade'

KATHMANDU: The government plans to designate the next decade as the 'IT Decade' to achieve socio-economic transformation and prosperity, using information technology as the foundation of digital transformation.

Presenting the government's policies and programmes for the upcoming fiscal year in the joint session of the federal parliament today, President Paudel emphasised that Nepal will be developed as a global information technology hub, encouraging the development of the IT industry as the primary sector of employment and service export.

At least 5,000 jobs will be created by establishing IT workstations at suitable locations in the Kathmandu Valley and each province, according to the policies and programmes. Similarly, a legal and institutional arrangement will be made for the safe and effective use of communications and IT systems, and the government plans to revise the Digital Nepal framework. "An internet and data exchange platform will be prepared to maintain interconnectivity among electronic systems," says President Paudel.

The government plans to bring the citizen service centre into operation in collaboration with local levels to provide all public services from one place. The policies and programmes mention that broadband service will be made high-quality, accessible, and safe by expanding broadband internet. Activities to expand high-capacity optical fibre will be accelerated to provide high-speed internet service and satellite-based internet service will be launched in remote and rural areas.

Institutional arrangements will be made to enhance the effectiveness of research, response, and public awareness of cybersecurity-related works. 

The government plans to increase the access of women, minorities, and disadvantaged classes, regions, and communities to information technology by expanding digital literacy.

The policies and programmes mention that the task of launching Nepal's own satellite will be advanced, and the standard for the construction and operation of the data centre will be developed. The government also plans to advance the process for establishing the Information Technology Knowledge Park.

It is mentioned in the policies and programmes document that IT systems used by public bodies will be determined and made safe and reliable, while technical testing of IT systems used in public bodies, including hardware, software, network, cyber security, etc., will be carried out.

The government plans to adopt a policy of building systems and software used in public bodies from the government sector and giving preference to domestically developed software.

The government plans to arrange state-of-the-art, high-quality, and competitive printing for security printing such as excise stickers, postage stamps, driving licenses, passports, and to restructure the postal service to make it fast, efficient, and IT-friendly, and link it with e-commerce.

"Policy, legal, and structural reforms will be made for the professional development of the mass media sector. The use of social media will be made dignified and managed. A media literacy campaign will be conducted. Rural journalism based on mother tongue will be promoted," he said.

A policy will be adopted to build and operate Media Village in all provinces. In collaboration with Lumbini Province, preparatory work will be started for the establishment of Krishnasen Media Village in Dang. It is mentioned in the policies and programmes that television and FM radio, and internet service providers will be encouraged to merge, transfer ownership rights, and be transferred.

By RSS