World Telecommunication and Information Society Day celebrated.

Ministry of Information and Communication (MOIC), Nepal Telecom Authority(NTA), SECEN (Society of Electronics and communication Engineers Nepal),And Nepal Telecom (NT) jointly organized an event to celebrate the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD-2012) with the theme of "Women and girls in ICT". World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, celebrated each year on 17 May, marks the anniversary of the signature of the first International Telegraph Convention in 1865 which led to the creation of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The event chaired by Mr. Avanindra Kumar Shrestha, Secratary, MOIC discussed ways to improve ICT access and knowledge to Women and girls, so as to achieve progress towards having Gender Inequality and take them as equals. Program had some papers presented by Mr. Lochan Lal Amatya, President, SECEN, Ms. Muna Thapa, Ms. Namita Pradhan and Mr. Bijay Kumar Roy. Babita Basnet from Sancharika Samuha explained the need of policies for empowerement and involvement of Women to reach decision making level in ICT. Sumnima Tuladhar urged the need of reducing ICT Digital Divide between men and women, and also discussed the vulnerability to women and girls due to ICT. Deputy Managing Director, Nepal Telecom Buddhi Prasad Accharya illustrated Nepal Telecom's reservation for women in entry and further growth in Nepal Telecom and also explained up-coming technology/services to increase the access of ICT. Anand Raj Khanal, Director, NTA had a philosophical view of women behind women empowerement and the self interest/enthusiasm being a tool to empower Women and Girls. Lastly Session chair, Mr. Avanindra Kumar Shrestha, Secretary, MOIC opined the works done to improve ICT access not enough to achieve much progress in Women and Girls and the need of proper policies be formulated for Women empowerment.
ITU (International telecommunication Union) expects the theme for the World Telecommunication and Society day 2012 will influence people's work not only on the Day but throughout the year and in the future as well. Such program in the theme helps to use ICTs to provide new digital opportunities to women and girls in every corner of the world.
Here are some pictures from the program.