Passport Distribution Service Faces Challenges Amidst Increased Demand

Kathmandu. How easy is it to get a passport (electronic passport) these days? The Ratopati team went to the Department of Passports in Tripureshwor to report on this.  

With the government led by Balendra Shah in power, the passport distribution service to homes has already been expanded in some districts. Service recipients who wish to receive passports at home will have to bear the cost of postage stamps equivalent to Rs 55.  

Although the Department of Postal Services has been providing passports at the doorstep of service recipients, service recipients themselves are flocking to the Department of Passports in Tripureshwor. Sarvajit Kumar Thakur, who came to Kathmandu from Dhanusha to get a passport, said that the work at the department is progressing at a slow pace. He said that receiving service is difficult and troublesome.  

'Public welfare work is not being done,' he says, preparing to go to Israel. 'There are many obstacles.'

Deuma Kathayat Bohara, who came to Kathmandu for the first time from Dhangadhi to get a passport, said that there was a lot of crowd at the department. Even though the crowd increased, she felt that the work was easy and very quick.  

Shobha Tamang from Nuwakot had been standing in line since 9:30 am to submit the passport form. She complained that even though she was told that the passport would arrive by evening, she did not receive it by evening. The message has not come yet.  

Sanjay Yadav from Mahottari expressed his sorrow of standing in line hungry from 6 am to 4 pm. There was so much crowd that it was not finished by 4 pm. I am waiting for the passport. 'It felt much harder than before. It is also very difficult to come from the district,' said Santosh BK from Itahari, sharing his experience that it was not that difficult for him to get a passport. 'There is a lot of crowd, but the work was very quick and efficient,' he says, 'The behavior of the employees is also good.'
 
According to the Department of Passports, passports can generally be obtained within 2 to 15 days, while with express service, it can be made in one day. With the use of postal services in passport distribution, it has become easier for service recipients in some districts. This has saved time and cost, the department said.  

The crowd at the Tripureshwor Passport Department has increased after applications were opened for Nepali workers in Israel. The crowd has increased after applications were opened for assistant workers in long-term care centers in Israel, according to the labor agreement between the Government of Nepal and the Government of Israel. The Department of Foreign Employment has stated that in the first phase, one thousand people will be included in the employment process as soon as possible. The remaining 1,300 will be included in the employment process as per the need of PIBA after the completion of the first phase.  

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