Freedom Forum has moved to National Information Commission demanding detailed list of names of persons receiving fuel from Nepal Oil Corporation for free since 2003.

“The corporation did not provide detailed information even after the Forum approached its acting managing director Suresh Kumar Agrawal,” chairperson of the Freedom Forum Taranath Dahal said, adding that it is people’s right to know the names of those, who are getting fuel from the state oil monopoly for free, at their cost. 

Minister for Commerce and Supplies Lekhraj Bhatta himself has last October publicly disclosed that the corporation distributes around Rs 60,000 worth petroleum products per month to the ministers and higher officials for free. 

“The NOC distributes 200 litre worth fuel coupons daily to the minister for Commerce and Supplies apart from government officials and their relatives, for free,” he has revealed. The Nepal Oil Corporation officials
also repeated said that they have been distributing hundreds of litres fuel for free due to pressure from the politicians.

Meanwhile, talks between minister for commerce and supplies and Prime Minister for the consecutive second day could not yield any outcome on current fuel crisis. 

The ministry has prepared a work plan to manage current fuel crisis and want it to be endorsed by Prime Minister, a source at ministry said.

(The Himalayan Times, January 18,2012 )

Saptari, Sept. 6: Former Chairperson of the Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) has said journalists are taking the toll of growing insecurity across the country due to weak state apparatus. 
 

Dahal, who is also the chairperson of Freedom Forum, claimed journalists are reeling under spate of attacks and violence when the state does not come up with strong measures to discourage anti-press incidents and culture of impunity. Citizens’ rights could not be secured and consolidated until and unless journalists are safe in the country, he added. 

Inaugurating three-day training on journalists’ safety organized by Freedom Forum in Rajbiraj, Chairperson Dahal accused the state of being helpless in safeguarding physical and professional safety of journalists. On the occasion, former chairperson of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) Dharmendra Jha also alleged the state’s apathy to ensure safe and congenial environment for journalists to propel their profession. 

Also speaking at the inaugural programme presided over by FNJ, Saptari chapter Chair Dhirendra Prasad Saha were Assistant Chief District Officer of Parsa Lekhnath Pokharel, senior journalist Shivahari Bhattarai, former member of Nepal Press Council Anil Kumar Alal, among others 

Altogether 16 working journalists from Saptari, Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Siraha, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sarlahi and Janakpur district are taking part in the training that started on Monday.

Source: National News Agency (RSS)

Additional Link
http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Journos+alarmed+by+rising+threat+to+press+freedom&NewsID=301809

 

Kathmandu, June 22: The best competitors of ‘The 2010 South Asia Open Budgets Essay Competition’ were awarded and felicitated amid a programme organized here today. Freedom Forum organized the essay writing competition on the topic ‘Government Budget and My Future’ in collaboration with the US-based International Budget Partnership (IBP).  In the essay writing competition held among 136 students of grade 9-12 of five English-medium schools of the capital city, Bidushi Pokhrel of Graded English Medium School (GEMS), Dhapakhel stood first and received winner award of cash Rs. 37,500 along with certificate and token of love.

On the occasion, first runner-up Prarthana Bhattarai of Budhanilkantha and second runner-up Seema Chand of DON BOSCO, Kathmandu were also provided with awards and certificates.  While giving away awards and certificates to the winners, Freedom Forum Chairperson Tara Nath Dahal said the initiative was taken to increase understanding about budgetary transparency among school students and increase their concerns in budget issues thereby engaging citizens in ensuring transparency.

On the occasion, Chairperson of NAREC Nepal Dr. Chandramani Adhikari, Executive General Secretary of Association of the District Development Committees of Nepal (ADDCN), Hemraj Lamichhane, Governance Expert of ActionAid Nepal-MS, Ramesh Adhikari, Kedar Khadka of Pro-public, including others shed light on various aspects of government budget and transparency. The competition was participated in by the students of GEMS, Budhanilkantha, DON BOSCO, Nobel Academy and Little Angels of Lalitpur.

The competition was also held in five countries in South Asia, namely Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, on the same theme. 
The IBP is a non-profit organization based in Washington DC, which collaborates with civil society organizations in developing countries to analyze, monitor, and influence government budget processes, institutions, and outcomes. The IBP and Freedom Forum are jointly undertaking research on budget transparency in Nepal for budgetary reforms.

The IBP is all set to publish an attractive booklet of the essays and post the winning essays on its website. RSS