Doorstep Passport Delivery via Postal Service in Gorkha: 550 Receive Service
In Gorkha district, 550 people have received passports at home through the postal service. Under this service, effective since Baisakh 15, 600 have filled out forms, with the remaining passports in the pipeline. However, due to geographical challenges in remote Chumnubri, service has only reached the municipality center.
The government program to deliver passports to citizens' doorsteps through postal service is gaining effectiveness in Gorkha district. According to the District Postal Office, 550 people across the district have received passports at home since Baisakh 15.
According to Assistant Chief District Officer Netra Prasad Sharma, 600 people have filled out forms to receive passports at home, and so far 550 have availed the service. The remaining passports are in the process of arriving, he said.
The Cabinet meeting held on Chaitra 13 had decided to deliver passports to citizens' doorsteps via postal service. This policy was implemented under the government's governance reform program.
According to the policy, an agreement was reached between the District Administration Office and the District Postal Office on Baisakh 15, informed District Postal Officer Binod Gaire. As per the agreement, a counter has been established at the District Administration Office with one postal employee deployed.
According to Gaire, service seekers coming to fill out passport forms must choose whether to receive the passport at the office or at home. For those opting for home delivery, postal forms are filled out and necessary details recorded. Based on that information, the passport is delivered to the home once it arrives.
He said service seekers must affix a 55-rupee postal stamp to receive the passport at home. No additional fees are charged, he said. Service seekers must provide details such as name, number, and address at the postal counter of the District Administration Office.
Gaire said that after the District Administration Office hands over passports printed in Kathmandu to the Postal Office, they reach the service seeker's home within at least three days within the district. After the service seeker receives the passport, a receipt is made and submitted to the administration office, he said.
The District Postal Office is also working in Chumnubri and Dharche rural municipalities of northern Gorkha in line with the government's policy of delivering passports at home. However, due to geographical remoteness, delivering passports to homes beyond the municipality center Philim in Chumnubri is complex, according to Gaire.
"In Chumnubri, we can only send up to the municipality center; we lack the manpower and resources to deliver beyond that," he said. "As per the government's policy, we have launched this service by maximizing the available manpower and resources."
According to the District Postal Office Gorkha, most service seekers in Palungtar Municipality, Sahid Lakhan, and Arughat Rural Municipality have been receiving passports at home.