LALITPUR, Sept 20: Minister for Information and Communications, Dr Bikram Timilsina, has stressed that digital transformation should go beyond technological expansion, modernization of government services and enhancement of work efficiency. It should be utilised even during disasters, he stated.
During his address to the 'Digital Nepal Conclave' organised by the ICT Foundation in Lalitpur today, the Minister informed that the government was focused on building a sustainable and resilient digital system so that people have access to unhindered services , information and communications.
Digital transformation should not be viewed solely from the perspectives of convenience and improved facilities, according to him.
The recent devastating floods in the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli river systems have highlighted the need to prioritise the continuity of digital systems and reliable disaster-response capabilities simultaneously. It has been realised that protecting physical infrastructures and strengthening of information and communications systems should be pursued as national priorities. Reliable data serves as the base for effective decision-making, while public trust is directly linked to the effectiveness and reliability of digital technology, he said.
In the upcoming phase of digital transformation, the government will step up efforts to integrate disaster-response, information management and citizen's access to public services. The government is working to strengthen dissemination of emergency information, institutional coordination, access to urgent services, and mechanism to identify and counter misinformation.
According to him, Nepal needs not only digital transformation, but also sustainable and resilient digital transformation. "The question now is whether our digital systems can provide continuous service when citizens need it most," he said.
Two-day Huawei Digital Nepal Conclave 2022
"Can the government communicate effectively during a crisis? Can institutions coordinate in real-time? Can citizens access essential services and information when regular channels are disrupted? And when misinformation spreads faster than the truth, can we distinguish facts from rumors? These are no longer theoretical questions; these have become matters of national priority," the Minister stressed.
Communications Minister Timilsina emphasized that digital governance, disaster response, data exchange, digital public services, artificial intelligence, data sovereignty, and the digital economy should not be viewed in isolation but rather linked to building national capacity.
Public trust must
"Although information itself is established as an important infrastructure in the present digital age, credibility and public trust in it are instrumental so that it would contribute positively to the institutional capacity," Minister Dr Timilsina said, reminding the information imperatives such as fact, transparency, accountability and public trust.
The Minister stressed that the information system should be reliable, responsible and accountable because misinformation and rumors foment uncertainty among citizens during a crisis.
Digital inclusion should be reflected even in remote mountainous areas, rural areas and disaster-affected areas with citizen's easy access to communication and digital services when needed, according to him. The data and information in government agencies should not be limited to institutional boundaries but best utilized for service delivery, coordination and decision-making processes.
He argued the need for interoperability among different government systems in addition to information exchange and institutional coordination. The integrated system helps reduce duplication, the Minister said.
Technology is means not ultimate objective
Minister Dr Timilsina also reminded the event participants that technology is not the ultimate goal in itself but an effective medium to ease our lives. Digital governance could be judged based on reach and fair access to digital services. Digital public services are parts of digital governance.
In view of Minister Dr Timilsina, artificial intelligence (AI) could be leveraged to reap benefits in the sectors of education, health, economic development, public service delivery and disaster preparedness. However, moral safety, accountability, data protection and public trust are vital while forwarding modern technology, he suggested.
He further said priority to good governance and protection of civil rights can make AI journey friendly to citizen's welfare.
"Digital transformation is more than a technical project. It is a governance project. It is a development project, and ultimately, a nation-building project," the Minister underscored, adding that the Ministry was committed to strengthening communication systems, improving public access to information, fostering information credibility and building a more connected and resilient Nepal. For it to happen, the government is for advancing collaboration with all stakeholders, including government agencies, private sector, academia, innovators, development partners and citizens, the Minister shared.
Dr Timilsina argued multi-stakeholder initiatives could be forwarded for the establishment of Digital Nepal. He shared the to-do list for Digital Nepal such as coordination, institutional capacity building, private sector's engagement in technology development, academic research, innovation and citizen participation. He pledged government support in strengthening the communication system, access to public information, information credibility and digital inclusion.
He said the event would come up with fruitful deliberations on communication, governance, data systems, public services and digital infrastructure, which he hoped would be helpful in speeding up Nepal’s economic and social developments and coping with future crises.
"The Bhotekoshi flood reminds us to develop a digital system in a way to make it feasible/functional even in difficult times. Nepal should forward digital activities accordingly," he stressed.
