More than 451,000 people receive national identity cards in Jhapa

JHAPA: A total of 451,704 people have received national identity cards in Jhapa, according to the District Administration Office.

The information was disclosed in the office’s first-quarter progress report for the current fiscal year. The District Administration Office in Bhadrapur and the Area Administration Offices in Gaurigunj and Damak are responsible for registering personal details and distributing national identity cards in the district.

Of the 864,816 people who registered for national identity cards in Jhapa, 553,548 cards have been received from the central authority, Assistant Chief District Officer Sahadev Rayamajhi said.

Of the cards received, 101,844 are awaiting distribution. Rayamajhi said some cards remain undistributed because the concerned individuals have died, gone abroad for employment or left the district for other reasons.

“The concerned individual must be physically present to receive a national identity card,” he said.

According to the quarterly report, the District Administration Office collected personal details for 24,646 national identity cards during Shrawan, Bhadra and Asoj. During the same period, it issued citizenship certificates to 3,778 people, distributed 4,448 copies of citizenship certificates, issued 3,139 passports and recommended 5,736 passport applications.

The report shows that 3,535 citizenship certificates were issued on the basis of descent, 180 through marriage-based naturalisation, 46 through naturalisation and 16 to non-resident Nepalis. One citizenship certificate was issued on the basis of birth.

Chief District Officer Shrawan Kumar Pokharel said the office had introduced a paperless service system and a zero-pending-application campaign to make public services faster, more efficient and accessible.

By accepting advance applications for passports and national identity cards, the office has cleared its backlog of pending applications and provided services to people who previously had to wait for hours from early morning or visit on holidays. Pokharel said applicants can now submit their applications and complete biometric procedures on the same day.

To further improve service delivery, the office has also developed service-friendly physical infrastructure and organised a help desk to assist visitors.