‘Binaya Kasajoo Outstanding Information Campaigner Award to senior journalist Dahal

Kathmandu. President Ramchandra Paudel has honoured senior journalist and Right to Information campaigner, Taranath Dahal, amidst a programme in the capital on Monday.

Dahal was honoured with the ‘Binaya Kasajoo Outstanding Information Campaigner Award’ in recognition of his contribution to the implementation, promotion and advocacy of the RTI in Nepal. At a function held at the President’s Office, Sheetal Niwas, on the occasion of 18th anniversary of the National Information Commission (NIC) on Monday.

President Paudel handed Dahal with a letter of appreciation and Rs 55,000. It may be noted that the NIC had honoured him with the ‘senior campaigner’ 11 years ago for his outstanding contribution to RTI promotion in the country. On the occasion, Dahal said the status of implementation of the RTI Act in the country was still not satisfactory.

RTI plays an important role for development and good governance; he said that it should be utilized with effective implementation. Noting that the guarantee of right to information is the primary condition of democracy, Dahal stressed the need for all stakeholders to remain sensitive for its promotion.

Executive editor of Nepal Samacharpatra Deepak Rijal, editor-in-chief of Taksar magazine Gajendra Budhathoki, photojournalists Kabita Thapa and Hariram Konda of Gorkhapatra daily were honoured with the ‘Best Information Campaigner’ award.

The award carries a cash prize of Rs 30,000 and a letter of appreciation. Similarly, Devi Prasad Thapaliya, Keshav Silwal, Padam Kumar Shrestha, Hemanta Kumar Budhathoki and Buddhiram Neupane were provided the ‘Best Information Officer’ award bagging Rs 30,000 each.

Also on the occasion, Santosh Dahal, Sudarshan Dhakal, Dinesh Luitel, Ranjana Dahal, Sitaram Basnet and Miley Tamang were awarded as the best employees. RSS