NOVEMBER 11, 2008 Freedom Forum Chairperson Taranath Dahal on behalf of the organization has registered an application in the office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers on November 10, 2008, demanding information regarding the amount deposited in the Prime Minister Natural Disaster Relief Fund from various individuals and organizations for victims of the Koshi deluge.
Plaintiff Dahal, in accordance with Right to Information (RTI)-2007, Clause 7 (A), urged to provide information about the number of total population (households, women, men, children below 18, senior citizens above 60) rendered displaced after the dismantle of Koshi river embankment this year.
The application under RTI Act also sought information related to the official report the government prepared assessing the losses of lives and properties in the disaster, details of the fund deposited in the Fund by mid-October 2008, name list of donors (agency, organization, individual) and donation amount with dates.
Information seeker Dahal also demanded how much fund has been provided as a relief to the victims in what dates through which organizations and authorities.
It is noteworthy to mention here that the flood-hits in eastern Nepal have come on agitation, demanding relief package from the government and concerned bodies. It has spread doubts among people whether the huge chunk of relief fund raised for the humanitarian aid to victims has been appropriately used or not.
In keeping with possible misappropriation of the fund, the information is sought in a bid to check wrong doings and put government’s effort on track in such events. It is noted that every citizens are entitled to seek information held by the public bodies according to the Act.
For more information,
Freedom Forum
monitoring@freedomforum.org.np
01-4102030/ 4102022