KATHMANDU, May 2: Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Rekha Sharma, has said the IT role is vital for achieving good governance and prosperity, the priorities of the government.

Addressing a programme organized by the Ministry on the occasion of the Sixth National Information Technology Day today, the Minister said the government was effortful to strengthen the public service system.

The Minister spoke of the need to promote the efficient use of IT for passport, national ID card, labor permit and other online services. "The government has ensured the issuances of passport, national ID and labor permit for foreign employment from the local-level and a digital health check-up and counseling service has been launched targeting Nepali foreign migrant workers and the efficient use of IT is necessary to enhance the quality of these services." 

"IT is becoming an indispensable part of each citizen. Now its use is not just for entertainment purposes, but it has been established as a vital aspect of human life," she said.

 According to the Minister, we could see positive changes among the public because of the IT use. It has largely contributed to making the service system more transparent, widely accessible and prompt with the cost reduction.  The State services to the citizens are becoming IT-friendly.

"Online facility is available for most essential services including financial transactions," the Minister said, adding that it had been the responsibility of the State to ensure citizens' safe and equal access to IT along with its further expansion.

Stating that the government has already taken ahead works for setting up the National Cyber Security Centre to face cyber security challenges, she shared that the formulation of national cyber security policy has reached its final stage.

The Minister mentioned, "The National Cyber Security Monitoring Centre has been established in the Ministry and brought into operation for the security of government communications and information technology systems."

The government was active in making legal arrangements including necessary policies, acts and regulations for the development and expansion of the IT sector as well as ensuring its safe use, she opined.

Minister Sharma mentioned that programmes to increase digital literacy and people's awareness are going to be launched across the country to make the citizens literate regarding the use and safe use of information technology.

 She further said digital devices are becoming a big problem for us, appealing to all to make concrete contributions in bringing good governance and prosperity through the use of safe information technology.

Similarly, Chief Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi called for making IT accessible for all general public to materialize the vision of prosperity with inclusiveness. He emphasized the expansion of IT services and underlined the need to make IT services reliable.

Likewise, Krishna Bahadur Raut, Secretary at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology stated that IT had affected the global economy and therefore pointed out the need for collaboration among all parties to achieve prosperity through service, economic development and employment generation.

President of the Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Chandra Prasad Dhakal, said the private sector had an important role in building a prosperous country through the digital economy.

Although basic works were carried out to make economic transactions, education and health services technology-friendly, he viewed that they should be further expanded.

Nepal Telecommunications Authority Chairperson Purushottam Khanal observed that the development of IT had interconnected all citizens in one place.

Computer Association Nepal (CAN) President Ranjit Kumar Poddar mentioned that IT had played a significant role in the national economy, adding the private sector was seeking government's cooperation.

Meanwhile, the government today honored individuals and organizations for their outstanding contributions in the development and expansion of information communication and technology (ICT) sector in the country. 

Marking the National ICT Day today, Minister for Communications and Information Technology Rekha Sharma honored former Joint-Secretary Birendra Kumar Mishra with 'National ICT Excellence Award'.

Professor Timila Yami Thapa was awarded the National ICT Excellence Award under the women category. The 'National ICT Innovation Award' was conferred on Prisa Technology. The awards  carried a purse of Rs 100,000 each.

Similarly, the Supreme Court received 'National ICT Award' for delivering best service through the means of IT while the Info Developers Pvt Ltd and the Governance Automation Pvt Ltd received the National ICT Award.

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