Government officials are making preparations to set up the center on the basis of the recently submitted recommendations of a task force formed to study the need and structure of such a center.
“We have recommended to the government to set up NIMC to distribute NIDCs as committed in the national budget and government policy and programs," Lilamani Paudel, Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM), told myrepublica.com.
Paudel, who was also coordinator of the task force, said the center will be big and will conduct important activities related to card distribution. “This is a big project with challenging responsibilities.”
According to him, the cards will be distributed mainly in two phases. In the first phase, officials will issue the cards as per people´s interest on a volunteer basis. “We will amend the law and gradually make it mandatory for every eligible citizen be a card-holder,” Paudel added.
Those 16 years or older are eligible for the NIDC.
The card will work as an alternative to the existing citizenship card. Officials said the plan will come into effect after confirmation of the NIMC overseeing agency.
The task force recommended that the Ministry of Home Affairs should oversee the NIMC. The ministry, however, didn´t accept the task force proposal and has urged OPMCM to oversee the NIMC.
Activities relating to recruiting government employees and providing resources for the NIMC will begin after confirmation of the overseeing agency.
The card will be developed digitally, with a photo and bio-metric data of the card holder. The card, which will gradually replace the traditional-format citizenship card, will be machine-readable, similar to an ATM card.
The government will start introducing such cards after completion of work on the new electoral roll. According to officials, work on developing the National Identity Card will start after completion of the electoral roll.
“Data and other particulars collected for the electoral roll will be helpful for developing the NIC", said Secretary Paudel.
The documents for the electoral roll and the NID are similar. Therefore, the government has decided to introduce the card in coordination with the ministries concerned and the Election Commission.
People now need to consult the district administration office concerned to find out the identity of any Nepali citizen as citizenship records are scattered around the country.
But all details about NIDCs can be obtained from the NIMC alone.
According to officials, there is no possibility of dual issuance of NIDCs as the records will be stored in a computer. “Those who attempt for fake the NIDC will be exposed through data already stored in the computer” Paudel added.
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