SYANGJA, Sept 25: Locals in remote areas of Syangja are elated after receiving citizenship at their doorsteps. The naïve villagers had long remained without citizenship because they were unaware about the importance of the document.
"I have finally obtained my citizenship. Now, I will be able to cast vote in the elections," said fifty-eight-year-old Til Kumari Sarki of Andhikhola Rural Municipality-1.
The reason behind not having a citizenship certificate for such a long time, she said, was that her husband did not show any concern in obtaining citizenship for her.
Til Kumari was provided the citizenship at Panchamul by a mobile camp deployed by the District Administration Office (DAO), Syangja and Andhikhola Rural Municipality.
Locals elated to receive passports in their vicinity
“We spent the prime of our life without citizenship and finally received it when we are in our twilight years," she said, adding, “It's now time to get old-age allowance.”
Her husband Khadka Bahadur Sarki said they never required citizenship because of which he never knew its importance.
"I am happy that I could obtain citizenship in my own village or else I would have had to spend a lot of money to visit the district headquarters (Syangja) for the paper," said Khadka Bahadur.
Similarly, Sujan Dhakal of Andhikhola-1, who recently passed the Secondary Education Examination (SEE), has also obtained his citizenship.
"I have now become a Nepali citizen," said Sujan, adding, "I have already started feeling like a new responsibility has been added on my shoulders."
He expressed his gratefulness toward the rural municipality for providing this service in their own village.
Chief District Officer Kosh Hari Niraula informed Republica that the camp was organized to provide government services to the locals with ease. "We just want to make the people realize the existence of the government.”
According to him, the DAO will put all its efforts to make Singha Durbar accessible in rural areas.
"We want to ensure that the people get government services and facilities at their doorsteps," said Sudhir Kumar Poudel, chairperson of Andhikhola Rural Municipality.
As the district headquarters is far away, this service has offered a great respite to the locals who were able to save a lot of time and money in acquiring citizenship. "We have been elected by the people. So, their doorstep is our office," said Niraula.
As many as 167 people of Andhikhola-1, Arjunchaupari-5 and 6 obtained citizenship from the mobile camp. In comparison to the males, more number of females obtained citizenship. In the past, women used to refuse to acquire citizenship arguing that their husbands already had citizenship so they do not need it.
