Once again, the need for a Right to Information Bill or RTI was raised during the question hour in the National Assembly today. A few Members of Parliament said that, given the growing trend of information sharing, such a bill is necessary. They pointed out that some media outlets are having a difficult time receiving information on time.
A few Members of Parliament said that it is even hard for the members to have access to information.
Tempa Dorji, Maenbi-Tsaenkhar MP said “As a member of the opposition party, it is important for us to monitor and review the government’s work and progress. However, we face challenges in accessing timely information, which affects our ability to carry out our responsibilities efficiently. Are there any plans to deliberate on the Right to Information Bill? If so, when can we expect it to be discussed?”
Rinchen Wangdi, Bartsham-Shongphu MP said “There have been cases where certain journalists receive information while others are left out, and we have observed this. How does the government intend to address and prevent such practices? Access to information should be equal for all. If the government cannot ensure this, then it is high time we consider introducing the Right to Information Bill without further delay.”
To this, the minister said that the government is actively supporting media houses in getting access to information.
Namgyal Dorji, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Employment said “We are well aware that the Right to Information Bill was previously introduced and deliberated in Parliament, and we also understand the reasons for its suspension at the time. Nonetheless, we are making strong efforts to provide timely access to information to support the media in delivering news promptly and to uphold the public’s right to information.”
The Right to Information (RTI) Bill was introduced in Parliament in the past.
However, it did not receive enough support from the Members of Parliament and was not passed.
Sonam Yuden/Tashi Dekar
Edited by Tshering Zam
