The District Administration Office, Bajhang has begun the services of issuing citizenship certificate and National Identity Card (National ID) to the people who are unable to travel to government offices due to disability, illness, poverty or geographical difficulties.
The home-based service is especially designed for the persons with severe disabilities and the bedridden and is for the economically vulnerable citizens in remote areas to enable them to complete the citizenship and National ID procedures without their movement to the district headquarters. Assistant Chief District Officer Satyakumari Joshi is leading a team to visit various localities with necessary documents and biometric equipment for providing the services at applicants' homes. The administration noted the initiative is aimed at making sure citizens do not lose access to government services and social security benefits due to their inability to physically reach government offices.
18-year-old Devi Chandra Joshi of Chhabis Pathibhera Rural Municipality-1 was among the people receiving the service, who was paralyzed and bedridden. He had been unable to go to the District Administration Office and pick up his citizenship certificate before due to his condition, the difficulty and the expense of transportation. The government team later reached his residence where they carried out the necessary formalities and assisted him with citizenship and National ID. Similarly, 18-year-old Darshan Bohara of Chhabis Pathibhera–7, who has been physically disabled since birth, also received citizenship and National ID services from his home. His family claimed he had been unable to start the application for social security disability benefits due to not having paperwork to prove his citizenship.
Additionally, the administration offered the service to Pammadevi Bhandari, a 73-year-old lady of Rural Municipality Durgathali–2, who has been paralyzed for four years and could not reach the district headquarters. The geographic isolation is a barrier to access public services therefore; it is difficult for residents of remote areas in Bajhang to access government services. A few days journey to reach the district headquarters of Chainpur may be required for some people and transporting seriously ill, elderly or disabled family members is a heavy burden both financially and in terms of logistics.
Local representatives said. some families may have to spend tens of thousands of rupees just for getting to government offices to obtain basic documents. While disability, illness, poverty or geographical isolation make it difficult for citizens to access services, the administration will continue to reach the citizens directly with government services, said Assistant Chief District Officer Joshi.
It is expected that the initiative will assist eligible citizens in getting citizenship certificates and National Identity cards necessary to avail their social security allowances and other Government services.
Source: Online Khabar
