Following the Bhotekoshi-Trisuli floods that caused hundreds of casualties and left many unaccounted for, another pressing concern has emerged: what will happen to the government documents that were destroyed by the flood?
The flood on September 26 caused extensive damage to lives and property in the districts of Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading.
Along with private homes washed away by the floodwaters, many government documents were destroyed, and reports indicate significant damage to offices of government and local bodies responsible for maintaining these records.
In Nepal, government documents lost or destroyed during natural disasters often include citizenship certificates, land ownership registration documents, passports, national identity cards, civil registration certificates (such as birth, death, marriage, divorce, and migration certificates), as well as educational certificates.
According to former Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Umesh Prasad Mainali, in recent years, it has become less cumbersome to replace these certificates compared to the past.
“Because government records are no longer solely reliant on paper documents,” he explained, “data is now digitally stored, not confined to just one office computer but safely maintained across various levels.”
Government’s Responsibility to Provide Free Services
During the Jana Andolan movement, when land ownership registration books at revenue offices were destroyed, those offices had issued notices encouraging people to bring their certificates for updating.
Citizens had also been found to have personally safeguarded their certificates and had successfully updated them.
However, this recent flood has swept away some homes and certain government and local administrative offices.
Experts state that land ownership registration certificates are securely stored in the Land Management and Archives Department’s system.
Similarly, personal civil registration details such as citizenship, birth, and death are well safeguarded in the National Identity Card and Registration Department’s system at local levels.
It has been explained that passports can be issued based on citizenship and national identity cards.
While some other certificates may require either no fee or a minimal fee, passport fees remain relatively expensive.
“No fees should be charged, and citizens should not be subjected to unnecessary inconvenience,” said former Secretary Mainali. “Charging fees and causing hassle to disaster-affected citizens is inappropriate. Assistance must be provided instead.”
He added that agreement from the concerned ministry and the Ministry of Finance is required on this matter.
Although it is still early in the rescue and relief operations, a ministry official has assured that necessary decisions will be taken to assist affected citizens.
Sufficient Citizen Identification in the National Identity Card
Since Chaitra 15, 2080 BS (March 29, 2024), birth registrations at local levels have been synchronized with the National Identity Card and Registration Department’s digital system.
Therefore, some records of individuals born earlier or those under 16 years old might not be fully in the system. Officials believe it is possible to retrieve records using the guardian’s information.
Other records are comprehensively included in the department’s system.
The National Identity Card and Registration Act mandates “an integrated system for civil registration, issuance of identity cards, and identity numbers.”
The Act also places the department in charge of securely maintaining citizens’ biometric and personal data electronically.
Legal provisions require collection of a clear digital photograph of the individual, fingerprints of all ten fingers, iris scans, and signatures, alongside other personal and biometric data.
Attempts to get responses from concerned officials on Sunday were unsuccessful due to the holiday.
Mainali stated, “If required details for certificates issued by local authorities are missing, the government or respective authorities might make special arrangements to facilitate reissuance.”
‘Family Folder’ to Aid During Disasters
Image source, Getty Images
The national identity card contains details extending across three generations, which is unique compared to other countries because it even includes the name of the maternal grandmother.
Yubaraj Katel, Chief District Officer of Morang and former Director General of the department, noted that while the national identity card effectively identifies individuals, it currently lacks a system to identify families collectively.
“The government is introducing the concept of a family folder within the national identity card system,” he said. “Once implemented, it can play a crucial role even during disasters.”
He explained that countries like Turkey, Brazil, and Pakistan have effectively used family folders for disaster management.
“Such a folder clearly shows how many family members are affected, how many receive assistance, and how household issues are to be resolved,” Katel added.
He further stated that Nepal’s national identity card system is more effective in personal identification than those of many other countries.
While most developed countries use one or two forms of identity documents, Nepal’s system includes a facial photograph, fingerprints of all ten fingers, iris scans, and signatures, incorporating four types of personal and biometric data.
This ensures multiple layers of verification for identity confirmation, he said.
The national identity card is linked to passports, social security benefits, land and property transactions, banking and financial services, permanent account numbers, health insurance, driver’s licenses, transportation services, pensions, company registrations, renewals, and voter identity cards.
Experts say that the national identity card information can serve as the primary basis for reissuing any government certificate.
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