Online citizenship recommendation service launched in 33 wards of Darchula

Darchula: A total of 33 wards across nine local levels in Darchula have begun providing citizenship recommendation services through an online system. According to the District Administration Office, the system is now operational in 33 of the district’s 61 wards.

Chief District Officer Anil Poudel said the new system has eliminated the need for citizens to visit the administration office with written recommendations from ward offices. “The ward office enters the service recipient’s details into software developed by the Ministry of Home Affairs and sends it to the administration along with a code number,” Poudel explained. “The administration then verifies the details using the code number and issues citizenship.”

He added that the online recommendation system has made services faster, easier and more transparent, while also helping to curb irregularities. To implement the new service, ward chairpersons and secretaries from all 61 wards received training and participated in an interaction program about the system. The administration has also introduced measures such as a citizen charter, QR codes and software tools to simplify service delivery.

A postal desk has been established inside the District Administration Office to ensure that citizens no longer have to travel long distances to obtain postage stamps. Among the local levels, all six wards of Naugad Rural Municipality have begun issuing online recommendations. Naugad Chairman Daljit Singh Dhami said the system has been launched in all wards despite the area’s remoteness.

In Mahakali Municipality, based in Khalanga, the district headquarters, the online citizenship recommendation service is operating in wards 1, 2, 4, 7 and 8. Similarly, Shailyashikhar Municipality has started the service in wards 1, 5, 6, 8 and 9, though Chief Administrative Officer Surendra Bahadur Bista said poor internet connectivity has delayed implementation in the remaining wards.

In Malikarjun Rural Municipality, which has eight wards, seven are now providing online recommendations, except for ward number 5. Out of five wards in Duhu Rural Municipality, only wards 4 and 5 have begun the service.

In Api Himal Rural Municipality, wards 2 and 4 have implemented the system, while Byas Rural Municipality has started it in ward 4, Marma Rural Municipality in wards 3 and 5, and Lekam Rural Municipality in wards 1, 5 and 6.

According to CDO Poudel, the online recommendation initiative aims to make government offices paperless and more technology-friendly. “Previously, service recipients would often return home without citizenship documents due to missing paperwork, but that problem has now been resolved,” he said.

Service delivery through mobile camps

To ensure easy access to services in remote villages, the District Administration Office has also operated mobile service camps in Byas, Lekam and Api Himal Rural Municipalities. Conducted during the first quarter of the fiscal year, these camps provided services such as citizenship issuance, document copies and national identity cards to persons with disabilities, the elderly and other residents.

Assistant Chief District Officer Mohan Singh Dhami led the team providing services in the villages, which greatly benefited local citizens, said Pradya Poudel.