CAN Federation Senior VP Adhikari launches 'Information Technology Door-to-Door Journey' to press for Digital Nepal implementation

KATHMANDU: Senior Vice President of Federation of Computer Association Nepal (CAN Federation) and cybersecurity expert Chiranjibi Adhikari has launched a campaign titled 'Information Technology Door-to-Door Journey' to bring the challenges of Nepal’s IT sector directly to the government, policymakers and political parties.

Launched on the occasion of Adhikari’s birthday, the campaign is being framed as a policy-oriented movement rather than a personal initiative. Consequently, Adhikari said the effort will gather first-hand accounts from IT companies, startups and innovation centres across the country and deliver those findings to decision-makers to help turn the government's 'Digital Nepal' vision into concrete action.

However, a few years after the government announced the 'Digital Nepal' framework, Adhikari and other sector leaders said implementation has lagged. They pointed to weak institutional coordination, unclear policies, outdated laws and a lack of concrete action plans as obstacles that risk leaving the framework 'on paper'.

In particular, Adhikari said, "Digital Nepal should not remain limited to plans and declarations. Its real implementation must be connected to the ground realities of the IT sector. Through the 'door-to-door' campaign, our goal is to listen to these voices directly and deliver them to policymakers."

Moreover, the campaign will examine legal gaps that industry leaders said hinder growth. The Electronic Transactions Act, 2063 (2006), remains the primary legal foundation for IT in Nepal, but it predates technologies such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, blockchain and the Internet of Things.

Accordingly, Adhikari said, "We have talented youth and excellent startup ideas, but outdated laws and unclear policies are limiting our potential. If the dream of Digital Nepal remains only on paper, the enthusiasm of young people may fade," stressing the need for a modern legal blueprint that addresses data protection, privacy and algorithmic accountability.

Furthermore, Adhikari’s team will press for a secure, centralised data exchange platform to prevent citizens from repeatedly submitting the same documents to different government agencies. Cybersecurity expert Dr Robin Shah said the absence of such a system forces citizens to resubmit information and hampers efficient, transparent service delivery.

Dr Shah said, "Due to the absence of a data exchange system, citizens are forced to repeatedly submit the same information. Only after such a system is introduced will government services become fast and transparent."

In addition, the campaign will study the shortage of domestic, advanced data centres, a gap that leaves much government and private data hosted on foreign servers. The US-based digital economy expert Luka Jones warned that reliance on foreign hosting exposes Nepal to cyberattacks and geopolitical pressure.

Jones said, "Until Nepal builds its own data centres, national security will remain at risk. Hosting sensitive data on foreign servers leaves the country exposed to cyberattacks and political pressure." Adhikari plans to explore public–private partnership models for national-level secure data centres.

Meanwhile, the door-to-door journey will visit at least 100 IT firms, prioritising startups, software developers, cybersecurity companies, AI-focused organisations and fintechs. The campaign will document practical challenges such as lack of investment, tax issues, foreign payment barriers, intellectual property concerns and complex government procedures.

Accordingly, startup entrepreneur Sumit Shrestha welcomed the initiative. He said, "We have strong technology and capability, but without government support, it’s hard to compete internationally. The door-to-door journey will deliver our real problems to policymakers. This is a major opportunity for youth."

Given the national security implications of cyber threats, the campaign will prioritise recommendations on national cybersecurity policy, strengthening the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) and workforce development. Manju Shah, head of Nepal’s Cybersecurity Department, said implementation remains a challenge and that the campaign can help bridge policy, law and industry experience.

Cybersecurity Department Head Shah said, "Although we have policies, implementation remains challenging. The door-to-door campaign will connect policy, law, and start-up experiences to find practical solutions."

With the 2026 elections approaching, Adhikari’s campaign aims to press political parties to include clear digital commitments in their manifestos. Organisers want the digital economy, cybersecurity and technology-driven employment to be central to national development plans rather than secondary issues.

Meanwhile, digital communication expert Ujjwal Acharya noted that political campaigning already relies heavily on social media platforms, but improper use has increased trolling, cybercrime and hacking risks, further underscoring the need for long-term cybersecurity measures.

Finally, all findings and recommendations gathered during the journey will be compiled into a 'National Information Technology Manifesto', intended as a long-term digital roadmap for policy, law, infrastructure and innovation. The manifesto will be formally submitted to the government and top political leadership.

Organisers said the campaign could play a decisive role in securing technology-based employment for Nepal’s youth, boosting international competitiveness and improving government service efficiency, and described the door-to-door initiative as a potential milestone in Nepal’s digital journey.